LABOUR stalwart Frank Clifford has been selected as the next Mayor of Pendle.

The Brierfield councillor is set to take over from Councillor Gill Gilhespy in May. Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Jo Belbin.

Coun Clifford, 59, who has had a long and colourful career in local politics, is looking forward to his role as Mayor.

"I believe we've all got gifts and I believe in using the gift of communication to help to understand the problems that people bring to me," he said.

His political life began in 1957 when he was 21 and working for Nelson Co-operative Society in Nelson. He was approached by leading Labour light Len Dole and asked to stand in the town's Central Ward, a Tory stronghold.

He won the seat with a record majority and hit the headlines for the first of many times by becoming the country's youngest councillor. During his long career, he has pushed for the boycott of South African goods after the Sharpeville massacre and protested against nuclear weapons.

He quit the party after leading a seven-year campaign against Burnley's ban on dogs in certain parks. He was re-admitted and in August, 1987, threw his hat into the ring for selection as Pendle's Labour General Election candidate.

"I've never realised that dream and I won't now," he said.

Coun Clifford is chairman of the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council, chairman of the Pendle Police and Community Forum and a member of the Lancashire valuations tribunal.

Coun Belbin represents the Liberals in Boulsworth Ward, Trawden. She is chairman of the Pendle Services commitee and a past chairman of the former environmental health committee.

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