THE departure of Fred Venables from the leadership of the borough council is the end of an era. As far as we know, he goes after holding that weighty position for a longer continuous period than anyone else in local government history - an astonishing 35 years.

He is also believed to be one of the longest-serving councillors in the country, having first been elected 57 years ago.

Under his careful stewardship, Ellesmere Port has developed from a relatively small industrial town to a commercial centre of national significance.

And that is mainly thanks to his vision in ensuring that massive retailing and leisure complexes were sited at Cheshire Oaks towards the end of the last century.

Few have done more for one borough or for the institution of local government than Fred Venables.

Born in the town on August 23, 1923, the veteran Labour man was educated at John Street Primary, Chester Grammar School and the old Denbighshire Technical College in Wrexham, where he graduated in chemistry, going on to become a chartered chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

His promising early career was interrupted by the Second World War, in which he saw service in the army as a technical assistant in the 84th (Medium) Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery from 1942-47.

Back home, he was one of many young men attracted to politics by the advent of Clement Atlee's Labour government.

Fred himself was elected to serve on the old urban district council as a member for the old North East ward in April 1948, subsequently going on to be a councillor for Westminster.

He also resumed his career, becoming a technician in the experimental laboratory at Shell's Stanlow refinery.

In 1955 - the year the borough received its charter - Fred became an alderman, now a purely ceremonial role but then a senior councillor.

During his long council service, he has been a member of and chaired most or all of the committees, his influence being seen in almost every area of council operations.

As early as 1959, when he was still just 35, Fred became one of the youngest mayors of the borough.

He was leader of the council for the first time between 1956 and 1959 and again from 1970 until last week.

For this amazing feat of local government longevity and service, he was awarded the OBE in 1991.

In 1995, he was made a Freeman of the Borough and his half-century of service was officially recognised in 1998 when Andrew Miller MP presented him with letters of congratulations from Tony Blair and John Prescott.

For one period, it looked like Fred would not limit himself to local government when he was chosen to stand for the Wirral seat against Tory incumbent Selwyn Lloyd in the 1959 General Election.

Mr Lloyd held on with 39,807 votes but the 18,805 notched up by Fred was the highest Labour vote in the constituency for 11 years.

Despite some speculation, he decided not to let his name go forward as Labour candidate in the sub-sequent election in 1964.

Outside politics, Fred served as a Justice of the Peace for many years and has been a trustee of Westminster Methodist Church and president of the Westminster Choir.

Tony Blair described his reputation as a credit to the Labour Party.

It has been much more than that. It has been a credit to Ellesmere Port.