THE past few weeks have been something of an eye-opener for the new Mayor of Pendle.

Councillor Jo Belbin, who was due to take up the mantle of the area's First Citizen this afternoon, has lived in Pendle long enough to have her finger on its pulse.

But deputising for her predecessor Coun Frank Clifford after ill-health put a stop to his exhausting schedule, gave Coun Belbin a different perspective on local issues.

"I was invited to the Pendle Triathlon and the final night of the schools festival, events I wouldn't normally have been at," she admitted. "I discovered a lot of things going on and talented people of whom I'd been unaware."

Coun Belbin, a mother of four with three grandchildren, is looking forward to getting a wider outlook on local life. Other issues to consider include bringing environmental issues more to the fore - she will retain chairmanship of Pendle Council's Environmental Charter Working Group - and the future of Hartley Hospital, a subject literally close to her heart.

She and husband John, her consort, live opposite the former hospital in Colne and Coun Belbin is a representative governor of Hartley Homes Trust. Born in Sheffield, it was John's work with Royal Insurance which brought the couple to Pendle in 1974.

Coun Belbin worked as an audio typist for a law firm and for the last ten years was a marriage guidance counsellor with what is now Relate, the last five spent as manager of the organisation's operation in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. She retired last December.

"I never had an interest in local politics until I came here and found out how active the Liberals were," she admitted.

Coun Belbin won a by-election in Boulsworth ward, Colne, for the Liberals in December, 1988, and has been re-elected twice, last year increasing her majority.

Relate Lancashire is one of the charities which will benefit from the Consort's fund-raising work during the next 12 months. The aim is to provide an office in Pendle. Currently the nearest is in Burnley. The other group set to benefit is Coldwell Inn activity centre, Nelson, which caters for many groups, principally disadvantaged youngsters and adults.

The centre is believed to be the only one of its kind in the country in the way that it uses people on probation to staff it.

Funds will be used to buy a replacement minibus and to help subsidise the cost of groups catering for the handicapped using the centre.

Coun Belbin is also a member of the council's licensing and services committees, council representative with Age Concern Lancashire, the Community Council of Lancashire and on the Education Liaison Committee, and a governor at Christ Church and Laneshaw Bridge primary schools, Colne.

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