AFTER 13 years as councillor for Grange Park, Les Kersh is set to become Blackpool's new mayor.

In May, Councillor Kersh will become the resort's first ever mayor to come from Grange Park - the estate where he has lived for the past 35 years.

When he was evacuated to Blackpool from London during the Second World War he did not imagine he would make the town his home and eventually become its mayor.

He told the Citizen: "I'm looking forward to being mayor and all that goes with it. I was delighted when the post was offered to me and I've gladly accepted."

While he is mayor the councillor is hoping to raise money for Blackpool Victoria Hospital, in particular the Chest Unit which has been very good to him, and also local children's charities.

He will also be looking to find some money for a scheme to help elderly people afford home alarm systems.

He said: "There are schemes to install burglar alarms in elderly people's homes but many cannot afford them and I think these alarms give people peace of mind."

In 1982 Les set up a voluntary agency, the Blackpool Centre for the Unemployed on Talbot Road, and he remains its consultant co-ordinator.

He has chosen his daughter Sharon Kersh-Kilkenny as his mayoress and Councillor Sue Wright as his deputy mayor.

Councillor Kersh said: "Sue and I have been friends for many years. She is the councillor for Layton and her husband is the county councillor for Grange Park, so we have a lot of common ground."

Councillor Kersh will become the new mayor at a special ceremony on May 13, three days before his 57th birthday.

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