THE founder and former head of Blackburn College's TUC Education and Training Department, Clive Edwards, was today being awarded the TUC's top award at its conference in Brighton.

Mr Edwards was being given the prestigious Men's Gold Badge for his "dedicated service" to the trade union movement.

Mr Edwards, from Blackburn, started out with just one shop stewards' course in 1971 and went on to extend trade union education around Lancashire.

At its peak the Blackburn-based department employed six tutors and an estimated 4,000 trade unionists were educated and trained there before his retirement.

Don Rishton, general secretary of the General Union of Loom Overlookers, based in Wellington Street in Blackburn, which made the nomination, said: "We are delighted that he has been successful.

"There must be many former and present shop stewards and trade unionists across East Lancashire who will recognise why this award is being made and agree that it is thoroughly deserved."

He said that former MEP for East Lancashire Michael Hindley, secretary of the Lancashire Association of Trades Councils Peter Billington and former trade union tutor Les Frankish had supported the nomination.

"There was a consistent theme of dedicated service to the trade union miovement, whidh presumably struck a chord with the judges," Mr Rishton added.

"It is the highest honour the movement can bestow on its members and just reward for a lifetime of selfless trade union activity."