FORMER Conservative group leader on Blackburn with Darwen Council Don Heatlie-Jackson has died aged 81.

Tributes have poured in to the father-of-three who was a drum major with the Accrington Pipe Band and a school governor.

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Birdwatcher and classic car enthusiast Mr Heatlie-Jackson passed away at the East Lancashire Hospice on Sunday after a long illness.

He was elected as councillor for Earcroft Ward from May 1984 until 1996. leading the Conservative group for last two years.

Mr Heatlie-Jackson was also heavily involved in the Lower Darwen Community Association, was a governor of Darwen Vale and Holy Trinity Schools and a bell-ringer at St Peter’s Church in Darwen where his funeral will be held on Tuesday at 1pm.

Former borough Tory leader Colin Rigby said: “Don was a thoughtful, hard working councillor who was generous in his help and guidance to newly elected councillors.

“Politically he always strove to uphold conservative values of enterprise, equality and the needs and the needs of his constituents.”

Husband of the late Liz, he leaves three sons Nick, 53, Niall, 51, and Nigel, 46, who live in Darwen and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Born in Bolton, Mr Heatlie-Jackson moved to Blackburn Road, Darwen, in 1981 to be nearer his work as a sales director.

Nick said: “He was a terrific man who was passionate about the community an always gave 110 per cent to everything he did.”

Current borough leader Kate Hollern said: “He was a politically influential man who was very kind to me when I first joined the council.”

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “He was a significant figure and his passing is a loss to the public life of the borough.”