Remembering firebrand councillor

11:38am Friday 29th August 2008

I WAS a cub reporter in the Swinging Sixties when I first encountered the never-ending enthusiasm of Cllr Joe Knowles.

The Chapel Street chiropodist became the scourge of Leigh Town Hall as a Rent and Ratepayers’ representative, and I sat through many too-long meetings in the council chamber while he ranted on about topics close to his heart.

He bobbed into the office almost every day brimming with ideas and he was never short of a story or two.

This week I was sad to learn that Joe, who changed his name to Venables, his mother’s maiden name, after a row with his father, had died at the age of 78.

Although he left the town in the early 70s he remained a Leyther at heart.

I last saw him five years ago on Leigh market. He was frail and walking with sticks, but he still had the fire and twinkle in his eyes and that voice you could hear a mile off. We always knew when Joe was on his way.

He was one of the area’s great characters.