John Collins Hanscomb

Engineering salesman in the steel industry.

On leaving school he served in the RAF as a fighter pilot until 1953.

He later gained an MA in Modern Languages at Cambridge, where he also gained a half-blue in rugby and athletics.

Represented Heaton / Deane cum Heaton Ward 1964-2004.

Honorary Alderman of Bolton Metropolitan Borough, admitted 2004.

Leader of Conservative group 1972-94.

Council Leader 1972.

*He was also the transitional Mayor/Chairman of Bolton in the 60 hours between the dissolution of the County Borough of Bolton and the foundation of Bolton Metropolitan Borough in 1974. He had been Chairman of the 'shadow' Authority which operated between 1973-4 to steer Bolton through Local Government Reorganization.

Awarded CBE 1 January 1980.

He was a leading member of the Town Twinning Committee, where his linguistic skills were to the fore.

He took up flying again, gaining a private pilot's licence in 1981. While Mayor in 1982 he undertook a series of aerial photographs of Bolton, saving the Council a considerable amount of money when the pictures were used in the 4th edition of the Town Guide.

Served as part-time Chairman of the North West Gas Consumer Council for three years from 1982.

He was a major instigator and founder member of Greater Manchester Economic Development Corporation from 1979, but was voted off the Board in 1982.

Conservative Group Leader on Greater Manchester Police Authority

His wife, Norma, was Mayoress.

His son, Dr Nicholas Hanscomb, was a gifted scientist who helped to develop DNA testing. Tragically, he was murdered while walking home after attending Notting Hill Carnival in 1991, aged 38.

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