A FORMER mayor of Blackburn with Darwen and former headmaster has died aged 92.

The funeral of Jack Tarbuck, who represented the Livesey ward for more than 20 years, will be held at St Luke's Church, Bank Top at 10am today.

Mr Tarbuck, a former magistrate and headteacher of St Luke's Primary School, died on May 18 of a chest infection and old age, said his family.

Friends and family said he worked tirelessly for his community and although originally from Cheshire was a true Blackburnian.

Mr Tarbuck moved to Blackburn in 1951 to teach at St Luke's, where he worked as headmaster until his retirement in 1977.

In 2004 he was widowed when his wife Maisie died from cancer. The couple had four children Michael, Rosalin, Philip, and Alisa and five grandchildren.

Michael said his father, who lived in The Crescent, Cherry Tree, had been a season ticket holder at Everton until he broke a leg in 2003, meaning he was no longer able to get to Goodison Park.

Mr Tarbuck said his father had been passionate about teaching and was also an organist at the church, where the funeral would be held.

He stood down as a councillor in 1997 and served as mayor from 1983 to 1984.

The funeral will be followed by cremation at Pleasington.