RAYMOND MILL
MR Raymond Mill passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning, February 2, at Highfield Hall Nursing Home, aged 75.
Ray leaves his wife June, children Kerry, Joanne, Carolyn and Paul, grandchildren, greatgranddaughter, his sister Pauline, brother-in-law Joe, and their family.
Originally from Manchester, Ray and June moved to Helmshore in 1973. Ray worked as a Rep in the clothing and footwear trade, eventually running his own markets and shops. This led to his biggest venture yet and that was landlord of the Forester’s Arms, Haslingden.
Ray was well known for putting on many events in the pub and supporting local charities. He loved pool, darts, running and was a lifelong fan of Manchester City. His 17 years in the pub were his most enjoyable times and he made many good friends.
In 2012 he had a severe stroke, which left him unable to carry on the job he loved. Ray then spent over eight years in Highfield Hall, which became his home.
Ray’s funeral will take place at Accrington Crematorium on Tuesday, February 23, officiated by Father Andrew. Due to current restrictions numbers are limited.
Family flowers only. Donations in memory of Ray to the Stroke Association c/o funeral director Caroline Holden-Dewhurst of Johnson, Durning and Woods Funeral Services.
LANCASHIRE County Council leader Geoff Driver will not be standing at the forthcoming local elections in May, he has confirmed.
The veteran politician - who has led the Conservative group at County Hall since 2008 - said he made the decision at the time of the last county poll four years ago that it would be the last time he would seek re-election. His departure will bring to an end a lifelong association with local government, dating back almost 60 years - beginning in Rossendale.
He started out in local government straight from school, taking up a job at Rawtenstall Town Hall.
“I had the rather grandiose title of ‘trainee chartered municipal treasurer,” he recalls.
The majority of his career was spent in senior officer roles, before he moved into politics at what was then Preston Borough Council in the late 1990s.
He has been leader of the council for two terms - from 2009 until 2013, and 2017 onwards.
Looking back, he says the proudest moment of his working life came when he was awarded the CBE in 2013.
Coun Driver, 76, said: “I’m not getting any younger.”
AVERAGE speed cameras have trapped 400 drivers a week on the Grane Road since they were introduced three years ago, it’s been revealed.
In a Freedom of Information request, Lancashire Constabulary confirmed the B6232 had seen a whopping 63,992 vehicles detected for exceeding the prosecution excess speed threshold since going live.
With speeders facing a £100 fixed penalty and three points on their licence it means £6.4m has been collected from drivers in penalties for speeding on the stretch between Holden Place, Haslingden and the M65 junction near Belthorn. The figures cover the period between November 2017 and the end of November 2020.
With an average of 402 per week, Grane Road is easily the speeding blackspot of eight average speed sites introduced across Lancashire in 2017 and 2018 and its toll is well over double the next highest site - the A6 London Road, which saw 24,392 speeding vehicles after March 2017, at a rate of 127 a week.
The A588 Head
Dyke Lane saw just 87 vehicles detected speeding in more than three years. The figures exclude emergency vehicles.