LONG-serving Tory councillor and residential home boss Gordon Henry has died. He was 60.

Hyndburn councillors at the economic development board meeting sent their sympathy and best wishes to the family of their former committee chairman.

Doctors had told Mr Henry just a month before his death that he was suffering from terminal cancer, but said he still had months to live.

The Conservative councillor represented the Eachill ward in Rishton from 1979 to 1985 and again between 1992 to 1995.

He lived in Mary Street, Rishton, before work commitments forced him to resign from the council and he went to live at his place of work - Beardwood House, Wycollar Road, Blackburn. During his life he was the manager of children's homes and then became boss of several residential homes in Blackburn, including Clarence Care Home and Beardwood.

A teacher of sign language, Mr Henry spent his free time as a cricket umpire and a football referee.

He died on August 6, leaving his partner Sharon Lord, son Graeme, 20, who lives in the Isle of Wight, and daughter Victoria, 25, who lives in Newcastle.

The Mayor of Hyndburn, Coun Maurice Cowell, was set to attend the funeral today at St Peter and St Paul's Church, Rishton, and then at Pleasington Crematorium.

Leader of the Tories in Hyndburn, Coun Peter Britcliffe, said: "Gordon was always very enthusiastic about the role of the economic development board and is sadly missed in Conservative circles.

"He always had a smile on his face and did a great deal for the people of Hyndburn.

"I was very sad to hear he had passed away."

Labour Coun Bernard Dawson added: "Although Gordon and I didn't see eye to eye where politics were concerned, after the meetings were over differences were forgotten and he was always friendly with everyone."

His son Graeme added: "He was a very popular man and he had a lot of friends in the council and in Rishton.

"We are all going to miss him very much."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.