THREE former councillors are the first honorary aldermen of the Ribble Valley.

Former Ribble Valley Mayors Myra Clegg and Ted Boden and lone Labour man Bert Jones received their awards in the council chamber.

Honorary aldermen will be appointed following exceptional service to the borough.

They will be allowed to take part in civic ceremonies, but not attend council meetings.

All three recipients were members of Ribble Valley Council for 25 years since its formation in 1974.

Myra Clegg was chairman of the council's Recreation and Leisure Committee and Roefield Leisure Centre Committee.

Fellow Conservative Harry Backhouse praised her for 25 years unstinting service to Ribble Valley Council.

Tory Ted Boden, the former head teacher of Chatburn CE Primary School and a well-known local weather statistician, was also praised for his hard work for the borough.

Labour's Bert Jones said in 25 years in the council chamber he couldn't remember a time when the Tories had voted unanimously in his favour!

The three recipients were presented with special scrolls by Ribble Valley Deputy Mayor Chris Holtom.

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