Council firebrand dies, 78

2:43pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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FORMER firebrand Leigh Councillor Joe Knowles has died at the age of 78.

The larger-than-life character, who later changed his name to Venables following a row with his father, was the scourge of Leigh Town Hall from 1969-72 when he served as a Rent and Ratepayers’ representative.

A chiropodist in Chapel Street, Leigh, at the time he put his heart and soul into council work and was proud of his greatest achievement which resulted in a change in the laws on compulsory purchase.

He was also president of the Leigh Spiritualist Temple, in Evans Street, and continued with church work and healing until his retirement.

He moved to the Isle of Man to start a new life in1972 and in 1975 the father of five, who had since changed his name, married second wife Barbara and became step-father to her two children.

On the island the couple ran three fish and chip restaurants, one in Douglas and two in Ramsey before returning to the Lancashire area when Barbara took up a post as the warden of a care home in Skelmersdale and Joe went back to selling fruit and vegetables, a job he did in the early days with his grandad before becoming a miner in 1954.

He left the coal industry following a serious accident at Astley Green Colliery and trained to become a chiropodist.

In 1984, the couple who had moved to Ashton, worked together as professional children’s entertainers and were members of The Magic Circle before Joe was forced to retire in 1989 due to ill health.

The couple later moved to their last home in Bolton House Road, Bickershaw.

Barbara said: “He will be remembered by many people, not just in Leigh, for the tremendous support he gave to individuals and their families.

“He loved his council work and was very proud that he won his battle to get householders full market price for homes facing complusory purchase.

“He had a good and interesting life and I am sure many people will remember him. Everyone recognised his voice, once heard never forgotten.”

A funeral service at the Leigh Spiritualist Temple on Tuesday was followed by committal at Howe Bridge.