VETERAN Labour councillor Derek Boden, from Whitefield, has been awarded the OBE for services to local government in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
He been a serving councillor for 32 years and has just been re-elected for a further four years -- representing Besses ward -- in last Thursday's elections. He is also leader of the North West Regional Assembly.
The former Bury Council leader, aged 67, of Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield, said: "I am pleased and indeed honoured to receive this award. I understand it is for my long service, which I hope has been constructive.
"This recognises the importance of local government in democracy as a whole and also recognises the sacrifices my family has had to make over a long period of time so that I could devote my time and energy to local government."
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