THE funeral of former mayor of Blackburn Gordon Toole will be at the town’s cathedral on August 30.

Tributes have been paid to a former Labour councillor with a 'big, warm personality' and a ready wit.

Born in 1936, Mr Toole died from heart failure on August 11in the Royal Blackburn Hospital aged 83.

He leaves Joan, his 79-year-old wife of 60 years; daughters Joan (59), Carol (57), and Alyson, (51); and six grandchildren.

A pupil at St Peter’s and Emmanuel Schools, Mr Toole worked at local mills before national service as a military band drummer. He completed his working life as part of the management team at Brockhall and Calderstones Hospitals.

A lifelong member of the Labour Party, he was a councillor for Moorgate and Mill Hill wards from 1979 to 1997.

He served as was the mayor of Blackburn in 1988/89 raising a then record £50,000 for the MS Society and opening Morrisons' Blackburn town centre store.

From 1993 to 1998 he was a Lancashire county councillor for Queen’s Park and Shadsworth.

From 1973 until the early 1990s he and Joan were foster parents.

His daughter Alyson Reed said: “My father was kind and compassionate with a quick wit. He loved his family and the people of Blackburn, serving whom was his life. He was a highly-regarded councillor both for his dedication and his personality – an avid socialist yet loved by all political persuasions.

“He was an active trade unionist, awarded the TUC gold badge.

“My father’s constant companion throughout his life was music. Following in his father's footsteps, he played the drums from boyhood till his early eighties. He managed to incorporate his activism into his hobby as a member of the Musicians Union. There was an occasion where a celebrity sacked the pit orchestra for piped music for his Manchester show. My father and his pals set up their instruments on the street outside to raise awareness that piped music in theatres was affecting the livelihoods of musicians.”

Cllr Damian Talbot, chairman of Blackburn Labour Party, said: “Gordon was a very highly regarded councillor, both for his dedication and his personality. I recall people describing him as the best councillor Moorgate ever had. He had a big and warm personality. I was his paper boy delivering the Morning Star every day. He was a lovely man.”

Cllr Colin Rigby, the former Conservative leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Gordon was a good guy and as mayor a very fine representative for the town.

“He was a hard-working councillor with a big personality.”