Chorley county councillor's tribute to his mum who battled Alzheimer's

Mark Perks, 62, had been caring for his mother Elise Perks, who had suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for he last four years.

During this time Mark - who represents the Clayton with Whittle division on Lancashire County councillor - became her full-time carer.

He gave up teaching 10 years ago when his mother first began to need looking after.

Paying tribute to his mum, Mark said: “I always promised mum I would never let her go into a home and that I would care for her.

“Although it was never easy and often personal interests had to be placed to one side, I have no regrets - she was always there for me, giving sound advice and support.

“Mum was my best friend and never had a bad word to say about anyone, even though I often got some stick from people.”

Mark publicly announced the death of his mother on twitter on September 27.

He said: “Sadly my wonderful mum passed away early this Sunday morning - her last words still going over in my head “love you “ my heart is broken, I’ve lost my best friend, life is never ever going to be the same again for me. This hurts so much.”

Elsie accompanied her son on his ceremonial duties during his year as mayor of Horwich in 1993/94.

Mark serves as an Independent on Lancashire County Council. He is also a former Chorley borough councillor and a mayor of the town.

He quit the Conservative Party and County Hall Tory group citing a lack of ‘understanding and support’.

He said at the time: “Since 2015 life has had its struggles with ill health after two strokes and more recently become a full time carer looking after an my elderly mother who has Alzheimer’s with vascular dementia.”

He spent 17 years as a borough councillor in Chorley and eight years before then as a town councillor in Horwich.

In August, he was badly bitten in a vicious dog attack while walking his pet border collie Cass at Anglezarke.

Mark, who has suffered two strokes in the last few years, needed hospital treatment.