BLACKPOOL'S mayor for the Millennium is to be a sandgrown'un through and through.

Councillor Bill Burgess, who was born in the resort 74 years ago and has lived here all his life, was voted Blackpool's mayor-elect for 1999-2000 by the full council yesterday (Feb 24).

Coun Burgess, who has retired from his family-run home furnishing business in Whitegate Drive, said he was looking forward to representing Blackpool over the Millennium celebrations.

A widower whose wife died four years ago, Coun Burgess' mayoress is to be his cousin, Betty Hammond.

The Conservative mayor-elect has given 18 years service to the council, being re-elected for Marton ward last year after a break. A past chairman of the personnel committee, he has served on all the major committees.

He was also a warden for nine years at St Paul's Church, Marton, not far from his home in West Park Drive, a past-president of Blackpool Grammar School Old Boys Association and of Blackpool Rotary Club.

Coun Burgess will be inaugurated mayor in May at the end of Coun Henry Mitchell's year of office.

And his predecessor had some useful tips to offer about his year as first citizen. "My advice to him is to enjoy it," said Councillor Mitchell.

"The key is to pace yourself as it is a seven-day-a-week job but there is a great mayoral team here to help you out.

"It's the sort of job which grows on you and there are so many different engagements. I can honestly say I've loved all of them.

"If I had to choose one favourite part it was the chance to mix with all different age groups, especially the children who still think it's an honour when the mayor comes to their school.

"You get out of it what you put in."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.