Residents can pay their respects to Chorley’s longest serving councillor on Tuesday (24 September) when his funeral takes place.

Cllr Ralph Snape MBE, 90, died last weekend and his funeral will take place at St Laurence’s Church.

A short procession will take place from the Town Hall to the church, on Union Street, and members of the public are being encouraged to line the streets if they want to pay their respects.

People will gather for 2pm on St Thomas’s Square, at the rear of the Town Hall, with the procession expected to leave at about 2.15pm.

It will go along St Thomas’s Road, on to High Street, Cleveland Street and then turn left on to Union Street before arriving at St Laurence’s Church for the service, which starts at 2.30pm.

Ralph served on many committees and was Chair of Licensing for six years.  He was elected Mayor in 1992 and served his year in office with great pride.

The Independent member was given an MBE back in 2007 for services to local politics. He was an RAF serviceman and always very proud of his links with the armed forces.

Last week hundreds of people paid tribute to Ralph – describing him as a perfect gentleman who devoted his life to helping others.