MORE than 150 mourners, including past and present councillors, paid their last respects to County Councillor Joe French at a funeral mass at his parish church.
Coun French was found dead at his home in Carr Road, Nelson, on September 28.
Tribute was paid to the Labour stalwart at the service at Holy Saviours RC Church, Nelson, yesterday. Among the congregation was Pendle Mayor Councillor Edwina Sargeant, and Coun French's Labour colleagues.
Parish priest Father Michael Haworth said Coun French, 78, was a tireless campaigner with a record of long and loyal service to the community and the Catholic Church..
Coun French was born in Nelson and worked for Burnley, Colne and Nelson Transport, becoming an inspector before retiring in the mid 1980s.
He served as a Labour councillor in Nelson Whitefield and Clover Hill wards before retiring in 1996. He was a county councillor for Nelson until his death.
Coun French served on Burnley Health Authority in the 1980s.
Councillors observed a minute's silence before Monday night's meeting of Pendle Council's Nelson area committee.
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