FAMILY, friends and colleagues are mourning the death of former Lancashire County Council chairman Eddie Fail - a Fleetwood county councillor for the past 14 years.

Coun Fail, 74, died in Trinity Hospice after a long illness.

His funeral was being held today (Thursday, April 22) at Cleveleys Park Methodist Church where he was a regular worshipper.

Blackpool North and Fleetwood Labour press officer Jack Croysdill said: "Eddie was a giant of a man in the local Labour movement - we will sadly miss his friendship, support and wealth of experience."

Edwin Miller Fail, of Cedar Avenue, Cleveleys, was born in County Durham and became a miner at the age of 14.

He moved to the Fylde 40 years ago as a full-time official with the Amalgamated Engineering Union.

Mr Fail was a Christian Socialist and a cub scout leader for 20 years, helping set up the 4th Cleveleys Scout group and three cub packs, and he was also a Wyre JP.

A Labour member for 41 years, he represented Fleetwood's Marine division on the county council from 1985, chairing social services Wyre liaison, public rights of way and fire and public protection committees before heading the full council in 1994-95.

He had also held every office in the local and constituency Labour parties and was a former chair of governors at Cleveleys Beach Road School and Fleetwood Nautical College.

Coun Fail was a widower, leaving five children and 11 grandchildren. Donations in his memory were being made to Trinity The Hospice in The Fylde, Low Moor Road, Blackpool.

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