Kevan James Helsby

School Careers Advisor.

He was first elected in 1983, and two years later became Vice-chairman of Bolton Council's Planning Committee, a position he held for five years.

He was one of the leading figures involved in the renovation of the Market Place in 1990, when it was reopened by the Queen.

He was also one of the driving forces behind the development of the Middlebrook Retail Park and the Horwich Resource Centre in Beaumont Road.

He received an MBE in the Millennium honours list for his services to Horwich.

Honorary Alderman of Bolton Metropolitan Borough, Admitted 2005.

"When I first joined the Council, unemployment was an issue - especially as the Loco works had just closed - but we adapted to the needs of the town. The development of Middlebrook, the Reebok Stadium, the Arena and Horwich Parkway station has been a great boost for the town."

He attended his last meeting on April 26, 2007, at which the Mayor of Horwich, Councillor Bernard McCartin, made a presentation.

Retiring from politics after 24 years he said "When you come to the end of an era you think back to all the changes over the years. It is quite sad to be leaving, but there is always something else to do and I hope that I can follow some of my other hobbies and interests."

However he was persuaded to come out of retirement and served a further term of four years on Horwich Town Council between 2011 and 2015 and was Leader of the Council from 2011 until 2014.

He was made an Honorary Freeman of Horwich by the Town Council on 23 March 2017.

His Mayoress was Alice Kilcoyne.

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