A MAN who served on St Helens Council for a quarter of a century has been honoured with the title of alderman.

Eighty-five year-old Leon McGuire who represented the Earlestown ward until he retired in 2012 received the award in recognition of his ‘eminent’ service to the council.

Council Leader Barrie Grunewald said the award was ‘richly deserved’: “Leon McGuire has always worked hard to represent vulnerable people. He is a man of great dignity and compassion.

” Born in India, where his father was serving in the forces, he lived abroad for 10 years but, when WW2 war broke out, returned to the UK and went to school in Edinburgh where his father was stationed.

He left school at 14 he went to work for London and North Eastern Railways at Edinburgh’s Haymarket station.

Leon joined the Royal Artillery Boys Battery and completed for 27 years military service attaining the rank of Battery Sergeant Major.

After leaving the army he settled in Newton-le-Willows and married local girl Margaret Thomas in 1955.

Father of four Leon joined the civil service and worked for the Department of Health and Social Security for 20 years.

He was first elected to the council in 1987.