Obituary

FORMER Burnley Council committee chairman, Tommy Bradley has died at home following a short illness. He was 80.

The life-long Labour supporter served for 20 years on the present council and the former county borough authority, before retiring in 1988.

He was a former chairman of the council's planning and housing committees and his work on housing was recognised when a new development off Sunderland Street was named Bradley Gardens in tribute to his service.

He was offered the mayoralty of Burnley on three occasions, but always declined.

Burnley born and bred, he always said the hardships of the 1920s left a lasting impression and gave him the urge to serve his fellow man.

His father was on the old Board of Governors in Burnley and Tommy remembered how destitute folk used to call at his parents' home for help.

Much later he was to say how memories of the poverty of his childhood helped him bend a more sympathetic ear to people's problems. It was in a way, he said, a blessing in disguise.

A widower, Mr Bradley leaves a son and two daughters.

Today Burnley MP and former council colleague, Peter Pike, paid tribute to Mr Bradley, describing him as "a solid and reliable long-standing member of the Labour Party.

He said: "I will miss his familiar phone greeting: 'Hello Comrade.'

"He served in both Gannow and Barclay wards; he was chair of planning for a number of years and was a great power both in the Group and the Party and was always well-respected everywhere."

Mr Pike said Mr Bradley had not enjoyed good health in recent years but always retained his sense of humour and Socialist Commitment.

The funeral will take place at Burnley Crematorium at 2.30pm on Thursday.

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