'The keyboard player for The Beatles and Rolling Stones gave me my first job'

Alan Neal isn't your typical councillor. He has over 36 years of service on Rossendale Borough Council.

He says if you were to ask his daughters, they'd tell you he's spent his whole life in local politics. However, his life has had many varied chapters.

He recently received recognition for his long service at a House of Lords event with the Local Government Association and National Association of Local Councils. And last year, he and another Rossendale Council stalwart, James Eaton, received certificates from the borough in recognition of their work.

Born in Bolton, he had a difficult early upbringing and was put into care. He was briefly taken to a Rochdale children's home, where he said he was hit by Cyril Smith, who owned the care home at that time and later became Rochdale's MP.

But things improved for the young Alan after he moved to Whitworth in 1966, He was fostered by Mary and Donald Sutcliffe who were a huge influence on him.

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Today, hardship, hunger and money problems faced by children and families are topics often raised by Alan Neal at Rossendale Council. He also raised these themes at the Westminster reception with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt.

Coun Neal highlighted an alleged lack of funding for community groups, funding for the north, child poverty and holiday hunger, when children who rely on free school meals who face uncertainty and hunger during school holidays.

CHILDHOOD AND CARE

As a boy, Alan Neal was placed into care in 1964 at Cambridge House in Rochdale.

He recalled: "In that era, Cyril Smith owned Cambridge House and the authorities paid him to take 'delinquents'. I was 11 and the average age of boys there was 14 or 15.

"I was only there a few days because I soon needed hospital treatment. I got walloped on Sunday, September 14, 1964. The date sticks in my memory. The social services took me to a place in Radcliffe. The social workers asked what happened and I explained that a big gentleman had attacked me."

Years later, Cambridge House events and Cyril Smith's wrongs were eventually investigated and made public. But it took years.

Alan said: "Jack Tasker [a former Lancashire detective] and the police spent years looking for a kid, who they believed was in Rochdale. But it was me. But the sad fact is that nobody has ever said to me 'sorry, we got that wrong'. A public apology was made but we have a blame culture so the authorities think if they apologise, it will cost them financially.

"I was one of the people who pushed for the enquiry. Later in Rochdale, the authorities agreed to taking down a plaque to Cyril Smith, revoke his honorary alderman status and strike from records that he had been mayor."

MUSIC BUSINESS

In 1967, then aged 14, Alan left school and went to London to work in music. Billy Preston, a keyboard player for The Beatles and Rolling Stones, gave him his first job. Alan said: "In London, I did anything and everything. Mostly shifting equipment. I've always loved music and many of my best friends are bass players."

His activities included work for the pop glam-rock band Mud, with Ray Stiles and Rob Davis, Through the 1970s, Mud had a string of hits such as Tiger Feet, Dyna-Mite and Lonely This Christmas. Alan's other work included activity for the RAK record label, a key British label with big acts and multiple hits.

Alan also watched up-and-coming bands at Lancashire clubs such as Blighty's in Farnworth, Nevada in Bolton and Preston Guildhall. Some went on to sign record deals and appear on BBC TV's Top Of The Pops, he said. He used to see Les McKeowan from the Bay City Rollers in those years.

Alan returned north in 1973 and remained in music for some years. Later, he worked as a baker, for an engineering firm and trained as a gas fitter. He said: "I did anything that was practical. I'm not so good at reading. I'm probably dyslexic. I used to get bored reading at school. But give me a motorbike engine or something mechanical and I'd be fine. Music, chess and art were the three things I was interested in as a kid. Not academic things. But I do wonder if getting a hammering [as a child] contributed to my dyslexia?

"Today as a councillor, I'm not great with emails or writing. But I can store things in my memory. I use the phone a lot for conversations. And I listen carefully in meetings."

In 1973, Alan was knocked off his bike in a road accident in Rochdale. He ended up in intensive care at Rochdale Infirmary, then he moved to Springfield Park Hospital. At that time, he met his future wife, Janet, who was a friend of his foster-sister.

Today, Alan still takes a keen interest in music and gets some rights-related income. He likes acts including Smokey, The Hollies, Olivia Newton John, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac and Robbie Williams, and knows a number of musicians and managers. His home has music memorabilia.

His said his daughters, Kimberley and Helen, and grandchildren all like music including Stormzy. Some years ago, he flew 9,000 miles to South Africa for an Olivia Newton John album that was only available there. The singer later sent Alan a birthday card on his 60th birthday.

MOVE INTO POLITICS THEN LEAVING LABOUR

Alan Neal was first elected to Whitworth Town Council in 1987 and then Rossendale Council in 1988. He served through most of the 1990s but stood aside for a couple of years for family reasons. He has been re-elected numerous times. He said: "I have only been beaten once, in 2000, when I was the Mayor of Rossendale. As mayor, there were 8,000 events in 12 months. Some days there were 18 events. I didn't put enough time into putting out leaflets."

While mayor, he travelled 4,000 miles on motorbike around Britain's coast to support the NSPCC. He recalled: "It rained every day for seven days. We rode for 17 hours a day. But it was for a good cause. Me and Tom Aldred [another former councillor] met the Queen and Prince Phillip at blackpool-tower>Blackpool Tower."

The Labour Party was a big part of Alan's political life from 1973 to 2003. Until the introduction of student fees. He said: "Then reason I left Labour was Tony Blair and tuition fees. Jim Murphy, [the former Scottish Labour MP and government minister] is married to my niece. At the time when student fees were brought in, I said to him 'you can do it - but not in my name'. But Jim is a grand lad. He does not smoke or drink, which is amazing given he's a Scotsman. We went to the wedding and enjoyed it. Donald Dewar was there too. We had plenty of good discussions.

"Tony Blair rang my house, asking if I'd change my mind about leaving Labour? But my wife said 'good luck with that'. Tony Blair is two days older and we are both Taureans. It did not bode well.

"When I resigned from Labour, Graham Pearson was the Rossendale Council leader. We had a meeting which was a bit fraught. All the Rossendale Labour stalwarts said I would not get elected. But I worked hard."

COMMUNITY FIRST PARTY

Alan said: "We set up Community First, which took four years. It's an officially-registered political party. In 2007, we stood five candidates and had four elected. We got a lot done. I've learned to work quietly in the background. Today we have five members on Whitworth Town Council and myself and Dayne Powell at Rossendale Council.

"I'd like to see Community First grow, if people join for the right reasons. I hope to be re-elected again. The people will decide. They either think you do a decent job or get fed-up with you. I wouldn't lose sleep about elections. But that's not to disrespect the faith people have put in me for 40 years."

Asked about achievements, he mentioned work including tackling problems with bikers and quad-bikes on the moors, and schemes around Whitworth. He added: "One of the most important achievements has been getting community interest company to take over Whitworth Leisure Centre from Rossendale Leisure Trust. The town council is involved and the swimming pool is an important asset."

Although Alan has a Labour background, he said he also respects a number of Rossendale Conservatives such as Anne Cheetham, Alan Woods, Anne Hodgkiss and Laura-Beth Thompson.

But he disagrees with recent comments by some Rossendale Conservatives who appear to blame some current Labour councillors for issues such as the Lancashire Empty Homes Programme, which collapsed in 2015 and had an financial impact on the council. He says current councillors were not responsible.

Alan often points out the different proportions of council tax which go to Rossendale Council, Lancashire County Council, Whitworth Town Council or other authorities. He thinks the ratios are wrong and would like Lancashire County Council to be abolished.

At Rossendale Council, he is a member of the scrutiny and licensing committees. He said he likes scrutiny, adding: "Some people say Alan Neal is a pain on the backside. But others say yes - but he's our pain in the backside."

FAMILY INFLUENCE

Asked about the influences on his values and activity, he said: "I suppose it's down to my foster parents and they also introducing me to a young lady who lived in Shawforth, who later became wife. I'm not the easiest person to live with. Someone once said they'd heard my wife wants to teach me to play golf? I said no., I think you misheard it. She wants to swing for me.

"We've got two daughters and two lively grandchildren. My daughters say they love me but I've spent my entire life being a councillor'. But it's about giving back. I still ask myself have I done enough? Could I have done more?

"However, my daughters always vote. It's only 100 years or so since certain men and women got the right to vote. My girls know voting matters,"

Overall, he said: "I do think Whitworth is a better place now - but that's not down to me. The schools are good. The kids are good. There are issues there like anywhere. But I don't think central government has helped us over the past ten years.

"In some ways, things have become far-more intolerant. Benefits have been reduced. What are people supposed to live on? Where is the humanity? When people ask me what are your politics, I say I'm a humanitarian."