FORMER Golborne Council chairman and Leigh magistrate Ernest Meirion Jones has died, aged 82.

Grandfather Mr Jones, of Newton Road, Lowton, was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Meirioneth.

His family moved to Golborne and he went to Ashton Grammar School.

When in 1946 he was elected Heath Ward's representative for Labour he was the youngest ever councillor in the area. He was finance committee chairman and Council chairman in 1956/7 and 1967/8.

He became assistant company secretary at Naylor Brothers in Golborne and in 1973 he became financial director at Fibre Drums Ltd in St Helens, retiring due to ill health in 1980 necessitating extensive heart surgery.

Mr Jones died from heart failure in Leigh Infirmary.

He leaves a wife, Irene, daughters Marian and Lyn and a son, Robert David.

Following cremation Mr Jones' ashes were buried at Lowton St Luke's Church.

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