FLAGS are flying at half-mast in memory of Mr Harold Taylor, former Mayor of Bury, who died on Thursday.

Mr Taylor (86) had notched up nearly 40 years' public service during a long and respected term as a councillor.

He had been ill for some time, and was admitted to Fairfield Hospital last week.

Mr Taylor was a Bolton councillor for six years and then represented the former Tottington urban council, being its last chairman in 1973/74. He joined the new Bury metropolitan council on its inception in 1974, and was Conservative councillor for the ward until standing down only two years ago. He was Mayor of Bury in 1991/92.

Mr Taylor lived in Vernon Road, Greenmount, and is survived by his wife, Lavinia, and daughter, Mrs Barbara Hull, who served as joint mayoresses during his mayoral year, one grand-daughter and a great-grandson born this year.

A war veteran, he served with the RASC and saw action at Dunkirk. After his Army career, he worked for the gas board and was a journalist.

A tireless charity worker, he was a founder member of Ramsbottom Cottage Hospital League of Friends, and was an official of the Tottington Ex-Servicemen's Association.

Mr Taylor was a keen crown green bowler with Tottington Bowling Club, and a founder member of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Funeral details had not been finalised when the Bury Times went to press, but a service is expected to be held soon at St James' Church in Breightmet where Mr Taylor has a family grave.