Tributes have been paid to “true gentleman” and former Chipping Barnet MP Sir Sydney Chapman, who died yesterday.

Sir Sydney was the Conservative representative for the Chipping Barnet area from May 1979 to 2003.

The 78-year-old, who had three children, was a whip during John Major’s administration and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1997 to 2005.

During his time as an MP, he launched the Plant a Tree Initiative in 1973, which led to the creation of the Tree Council.

After his retirement from politics, he moved from Barnet to Oxfordshire.

Fiona Bulmer, chairman of the Chipping Barnet Conservative Association, said: “The Chipping Barnet Conservative Association is very sad to hear of Sir Sydney Chapman’s death.

“He was a devoted constituency MP and there can be few people in Barnet who do not know someone who was helped by Sydney.

“He was a true gentleman and one of the rare politicians who was respected by all who knew him, whatever their political views. We shall miss him greatly and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Sir Sydney was succeeded as Chipping Barnet MP by Conservative MP Theresa Villiers

She said: “I was deeply saddened by the news that Sydney had passed away. He was one of the kindest and nicest people I have ever known. He was always incredibly supportive to me both when I became candidate and then MP for Chipping Barnet.

“Sydney was a fantastic MP for Chipping Barnet and there will be many, many, residents who he helped over the years who will be very sad to hear this news.

“I feel this loss at a personal level. I have tremendous affection for Sydney's family and I know they will be devastated. I hope they will take comfort in the knowledge that Sydney will always be remembered here in Barnet as a compassionate, principled and dedicated MP who devoted his life to public service.”