A LONG-SERVING councillor has stood down after a record 37 years of service to his ward.

Cllr Alan Wilkinson who has represented Bromley Cross since 1981, is retiring from the role to spend more time with daughter Helen and granddaughters Charlotte and Isobel, aged 10 and eight.

The former Mayor and his wife Denise will move to Filey to be close to their family.

And town hall chiefs of all political colours gave the Conservative a fond farewell last week when he attended his final full council meeting.

Cllr Wilkinson said: “I was very pleased and very honoured to be acknowledged by the Mayor and even got compliments off the opposition parties. People think we don’t talk to the opposition but I have found a few friends on the other side.

The 69-year-old,who has never lost an election, is the longest-ever serving member of Bolton Council.

And he also served as a governor at Walmsley School for 37 years: “It’s a great honour to represent Bromley Cross and I just hope I have done the job properly.

“I have enjoyed doing it and my wife and I have tried to do as much as we could for the community. We planted 3,500 trees last year and we have a Christmas lights switch-on that I first mooted about 10 years ago that has grown and grown. It’s a fantastic event now.”

He describes his time as a councillor as ‘a good experience’ but is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren.

“They’re the most important thing, we want to watch them growing up. If we leave it any later they will be off to university,” he said.