A FORMER councillor who held the distinction of being the youngest chairman has died aged 78.

William Graham, who died at his home in Chester-le-Street, was a member of the former Chester-le-Street Rural District Council for 22 years until it was abolished in 1974.

He became the authority's youngest chairman at the age of 37 in 1963 and went on to hold the post another three times.

He started in politics as a member of Sacriston Parish Council and held various posts in the Labour Party, including secretary of the village branch.

In the 1960s he was awarded the MBE for political and social services and in 1973 made an unsuccessful bid to be Labour's candidate for the parliamentary by-election in Chester-le-Street.

He was also a magistrate and was chairman of the Chester-le-Street Juvenile Bench.

Mr Graham became head of Sacriston Secondary School, later renamed Fyndoune Comprehensive, in 1969 and served for several years.

Malcolm Pratt, who for many years was the leader of Chester-le-Street District Council, which replaced the old rural council, said: "He did a lot for the village of Sacriston. He was well known and well respected and I had a lot of time for him."

The funeral will be held on Monday, at 2.45pm, at Chester-le-Street Methodist Church.