Popular Burnley councillor dies after short illness

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A DEDICATED and popular Burnley councillor and county councillor has died following a short battle with cancer.

Coun. Bill Bennett, who represented Queensgate ward, died in hospital on Saturday morning aged 61. He was much loved by his family and colleagues who also paid tribute for his dedication to Burnley.

His wife Cathy said: "Bill loved being a councillor. He loved helping people. He was always in the front, getting involved in everything.

Bill was determined when he joined Lancashire County Council to make Burnley and Lancashire work together and I hope that work will be carried on."

She thanked everyone for their support while Coun. Bennett was in hospital.

Liberal Democrat Coun. Bennett supported many groups across Burnley. As well as his work on the two councils, he supported Burnley Civic Society, Burnley Boys' Club, Barden Lane Nursery and the Royal British Legion.

After a career that included serving in the Army Signals Corps, Coun. Bennett also worked at aerospace company Lucas and for more than 25 years with the Royal Mail.

His Liberal Democrat colleague Coun. Darren Reynolds described him as "an amazing man" who worked tirelessly for the people of Burnley.

He said: "The family is amazed by the overwhelming numbers of people who had been in touch. They are very much in our thoughts. Cathy welcomes the kind offers of support and is happy for anyone to get in touch at normal times of the day.

"Cathy showed me the massive stack of cards and letters that Bill had been sent while in hospital. Messages came from as far afield as Germany, but the most touching messages were those from local well-wishers. It really came home to me just how widely he was appreciated when I was working outdoors in our Queensgate ward.

So many people kept asking me how he was doing that I could barely remember them all when passing their wishes on.

"Bill was an amazing man. He stayed positive right through to the end. He still had his mobile telephone switched on in his hospital bed, taking calls from people in need of help. It is so sad, and so unfair that we have lost him."

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.