A FORMER Mayor of Bolton who made local history when he was voted in as Farnworth's first independent councillor, has died suddenly, just hours after teaching at his weekly line-dancing class.

Mr Bill Hardman, aged 60, was in bed with wife, Sharron. She kissed him goodnight and said "I love you".

He smiled, and then he died.

Mrs Hardman, his wife of almost 34 years, attempted to revive her husband, a part-time caretaker at St James's CE School, and paramedics were called, but he could not be revived.

Today, Mrs Hardman was still trying to come to death with her husband's death on Thursday night.

She said: "I would never have wanted him to spend time suffering with illness, but I would have liked a few more years.

Retirement

"We were looking forward to our retirement and planning what we were going to do.

"He was a lovely, lovely man. One of nature's gentlemen.

"He was selfless and gave of himself for more than 30 years as a councillor.

"He was never in politics for the glory. He was a man of great principles, great love and great tenderness.

"Bill helped thousands of people, but he never made a song and dance about it."

Mr Hardman caused a sensation in 1991 when he stood in the local elections as an Independent Labour candidate in Farnworth and won by a majority of 717.

He had been a Labour councillor for 27 years but was thrown out of the party during a row over the St James's CE School opt-out debate.

Mrs Hardman said: "He really did stand up for his principles. It took a lot of courage and it cost him a great deal.

"He stood as an independent and was the only independent councillor to have served in Farnworth for four years."

Mr Hardman was a president of the Bolton Hospital Saturday Council.

After leaving local politics, he began teaching line dancing at the Ellesmere Club.

Mrs Hardman said: "He did that for about 12 months, but we have both been involved in the Country and Western scene for many, many years.

"Bill was also a crown green bowler and had been looking forward to competing in the veterans' league."

Mrs Hardman said: "We have three children and taught his values to them.

"He was a very strong man who believed in righteousness and freedom.

"I was very lucky to have had such a wonderful husband."

The funeral has been provisionally booked for Monday, March 8, at St James's Church, followed by cremation at Overdale.

Mr Hardman will be in full Country and Western costume and the funeral will be with "full Western honours", including a flag on the coffin.

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