WILLIAM George Taylor was the Birmingham boy who left the Midlands to become one of Blackburn's best-known councillors - Sir Bill Taylor.

Like his good friend Jack Straw, whom he has served as election agent for many years, Sir Bill had to overcome the handicap of not being a native son before he started winning votes.

A councillor for almost 25 years Sir Bill was inexorably linked to Blackburn's Labour Party and local government .

Away from the town hall and the council chamber Sir Bill worked hard for young people. In 1974, aged just 21, he set up a scheme for unemployed youths at the Brookhouse Community Centre.

After only 18 months as a full-time youth and community worker Bill, who lived in Great Harwood at the time, was elected vice-chair of the Lancashire branch of the Community and Youth Service Association. Today Sir Bill still works in Lancashire County Council's youth service.

He was elected as a councillor and became Blackburn's youngest-ever Mayor in 1989.

During the 1990s he matured into the role of a key player at what was eventually to become Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Last year he made the Honours List and was knighted at Buckingham Palace.

At the time some suggested his close friendship with Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Mr Straw had helped him win a gong.

With the advent of the e-mail system he was famous for signing off messages to friends with a quote from a famous figure.

Sir Bill's latest messages end with, "Now is not the time for soundbites. I can feel the history of time on my shoulder," said by Tony Blair.