Lawrence Francis Cunliffe

National Coal Board engineer at Walkden Yard.

MP for Leigh 1979-2001.

Represented North-west Ward from 1961. Magistrate, appointed 1967.

Chairman of the Highways Committee and Bolton and District Industrial Development Committee.

Made an Honorary Alderman of Bolton in 1996.

He represented Farnworth on the local joint road safety organization, the Divisional Education Executive and South East Lancashire Street Lighting Consultative Committee.

Delegate to the Farnworth, Walkden and District Trades Council and Secretary to the Walkden branch of the National Union of Mineworkers (Technicians and Tradesmen's Section.)

In his first speech as Mayor he said that "No matter what the difficulties and obstacles, we must never raise our eyes from hopes for a new and prosperous Farnworth." He thanked the people of Farnworth for their tolerance and endurance during the ambitious sewer renewal project and praised the Operation Springclean Committee and local schools for their contribution in clearing up eyesores in the town. He hoped to accelerate the course of urban renewal and improve the environment of some of the old industrial sectors. "Farnworth badly needed a social heart transplant", he said.

He appealed to Councillors to make a positive attempt to eradicate some of the town's problems, saying, "If we are able to embark on projects, posterity will bless you and history will remember you as planners of foresight."

He was NUM nominee to succeed Ernest Thornton, the retiring Labour MP for Farnworth, but John Roper was selected. The local NUM Branch also nominated him for the vacant post of General Secretary of the NUM in succession to Joe Gormley.

He was the unsuccessful Labour Candidate for the Rochdale by-election in 1972, losing to the Liberal Cyril Smith, a Rochdale Alderman who was very well known in the town.

MP for Leigh from 1979 to 2001.

Roman Catholic - Worshipped at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Farnworth. Governor of St Gregory's Roman Catholic School.

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