A MAN who dedicated his life to public service has died.

Bernard Patrick Donaghy, known to his family as Barney, worked for the labour party for 40 years as both a councillor and a chairman and worked as an official for the National Union of Mineworkers.

Born on December 25, 1933, in Liverpool, Bernard was the youngest of three brothers and came from a strong maritime background.

He worked at Cronton Colliery after leaving school, but always wanted to further his education and went on to get a diploma in economics from Manchester University and went to summer school at Cambridge University.

He met his late wife Edna, who worked in the canteen whilst working at the Cronton Colliery and hey were married on September 9, 1952, and moved to Widnes, where Bernard became a labour councillor in 1970.

The family moved to Astley when Bernard got a new job as an NUM official as a miners' agent and President of Lancashire Area NUM.

Bernard worked for the labour party for over 40 years as the chairman as well as being the chairman of Borough Care Services and Salford Community Health Council.

He was on the committee of the Morts Trust and was a school governor at Fred Longworth High School and Tyldesley Primary School.

Bernard and Edna had four children, Colin, Patricia, Robert and Janet, but Colin sadly passed away aged nine in 1962.

He also had four grandchildren Christopher, Robert, John and Michelle.

Paying tribute to his father, Robert said: “During his time as an NUM official he went up for the position of President of the NUM but was sadly beaten to the post by Arthur Scargill.

“Bernard dedicated his spare time to his family and public service.

“He loved his holidays away with the family and travelled all over Europe as well as England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

“He will always be remembered by the family sitting in his favourite armchair smoking his pipe and doing the crossword.”

Bernard died aged 80 on December 18 in hospital.

A spokesman for the National Union of Mineworkers Lancashire Area said: "It is with deep regret that the union heard of the passing of former NUM Lancashire Area Miners Agent Mr Bernard Donaghy.

"Bernard will be remembered as a hard working and conscientious trade unionist who‘s advice on the restructuring of the union at the end of the 1980s proved invaluable.

"Bernard was always prepared to go that extra mile to get the job done and he will be sorely missed by both the union and the local community.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."