My First. . .

HOLIDAY: After spending much of my formative years in hospital after contracting TB, my first holiday was as a young teenager with friends at Butlins in Filey. Compared with what goes on today, I think I behaved reasonably well.

HOME: 111 Scotland Road, Nelson. I was born in the front room -- delivered by my grandmother, who was a midwife. It was from there that I also launched my political career and became the then-youngest elected councillor in Great Britain, aged 21.

JOB: I spent little time at school because of my illness -- but I can still weave a great basket and knit a good dishcloth! My first job, however, was as an apprentice gardener with Colne Corporation, under the tuition of head gardener Fred Warren, who was a hard taskmaster.

CAR: A black Ford "Y" model, which cost £28.10s in 1956. I bought it during the Suez crisis when petrol was rationed and I still have a book of coupons from the time.

AMBITION: I have always wanted to represent the people and greatly aspired to becoming an MP. It was a disappointment that it was not to be, but I take comfort from the fact that over the past 45 years I have been dedicated to representing the community at grassroots level, both as a councillor and within various campaigning movements.

HERO: It is hard to choose between Tony Benn, who I believe has had the single most effect on me and my life, and Sydney Silverman, who served as MP for Nelson and Colne for 35 years and brought the abolition of capital punishment on to the statute books.

PET: There have been so many. I now have a black and white cat that I call Pudding.

RECORD: John Lennon's Imagine. It is so poignant. I love music of all kinds, particularly jazz.