Fitting farewell for veteran councillor and ‘lovely chap’

A ‘very solemn and moving’ tribute was paid to a councillor who served the residents of Bamber Bridge for 34 years.
Moving: Coun Tom Hansons hearse went past the Civic Centre in LeylandMoving: Coun Tom Hansons hearse went past the Civic Centre in Leyland
Moving: Coun Tom Hansons hearse went past the Civic Centre in Leyland

Coun Tom Hanson’s funeral courtege made its way past the Civic Centre in West Paddock, Leyland, yesterday afternoon, at the request of his family.

Coun Hanson died after a short illness aged 84, surrounded by his five daughters in St Catherine’s Hospice.

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His fellow Bamber Bridge West councillor, Paul Foster, paid tribute to his ‘mentor’.

He said: “It was very solemn and moving. It was very fitting that the procession went past the Civic Centre, as Tom spent so much of his time there, and serving the people of Bamber Bridge. The courtage stopped for a few minutes, and council staff and members stood outside.”

A service was held at Charnock Richard Crematorium, and Coun Foster said: “The crematorium was packed. People were standing outside in the rain because it was so full.”

The politician and ‘gentleman’ was recently honoured for his long service.

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Coun Hanson served as Mayor of South Ribble between 1991 and 1992, and had been a member of the Standards Committee.

Coun Foster added: “He has been my mentor for the last 10 years. He was like my political father. He was a lovely chap.

“He was a thoroughly decent and honourable gentleman, and he will be greatly missed.”

Labour group leader, Coun Matthew Tomlinson, described Coun Hanson as “a man for whom integrity and honesty was always at the core of what he did.”

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South Ribble’s Mayor Coun Graham Walton, added: “It was a full turn out, very well represented from the councillors of South Ribble both past and present and all the friends. It was a marvellous tribute.”