PAUL BROWNE was born in the “Irish Channel”. And that makes him a reyt Darren lad.

Not some Johnny-come-lately who’s only been here for 30 years or so.

That’s what everyone called Exchange Street back in the 40s.

Paul was born at No 6, a little terrace house surrounded by the town’s Irish settlers.

It was all flattened long ago and he’s now just round the corner in Greenway Street.

Paul is a one-off. He doesn’t do quiet, or conformity, or easy charm or peaceful co-existence.

He is, as he has been proudly telling me for more than 40 years, a proud Darrener. Everything else takes second place.

He has the uncanny knack of winding up just about everyone in local politics. Even his own Lib Dems from time to time.

“(Councillor) Jimmy Ellison used to say to me: ‘But you’re a Liberal, Paul!’ And I’d tell him: ‘No! I’m a Darrener!’

“Folk all say I’ve got a gob on me. But they also say I’m not afraid to open it,” he says with a roar.

I get along to council and forum meetings from time to time and it’s a safe bet that Paul will be having a mad rant at something or other.

It’s usually the Labour opposition who always rise to the bait.

At 66 Paul hasn’t lost his bottle for either clambering over high roofs, fixing aerials or for political in-fighting.

He’s been dodging round the chimney pots for nearly 50 years and has been a councillor for 35 years. Except for a fortnight in the mid 90s.

He was knocked off by Labour man Derek Brindle but he bounced quickly back when his colleague John Morgan headed off to Scotland.

And he is very proud of his attendance record over all those years.

Apart from holidays he has a 100 per cent record of turning up – and staying – for everything from small sub-committees to full council.

“These days, some turn up when they feel like it and get fed up after ten minutes. I don’t know why they bother.”

Paul Browne narked his own party when he openly supported the move for a Darwen Town Council. “I’ve always said, from the first day we were dragged kicking and screaming in with Blackburn, that we should have some sort of devolved power.

"A town council will be a start.”

The new neighbourhood boards? He almost choked on his biscuit.

Paul Browne reckons he’s 5ft 3ins.

He might be in thick socks and climbing boots. But as far as his loyal Darwen supporters are concerned he lacks nothing in stature.

He might be daft but he’s Darren daft.