A NEW council chairman had to leave its annual meeting minutes after being elected - because his first official duty was a date with a Royal.

Wear Valley District Council's new head, Eddie Murphy, was whisked from the council chamber straight to Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, where he welcomed the Duke of York to lunch with business bosses.

The Crook councillor is a familiar face at the helm of the authority. He has been acting chairman since October when Alex Clements stepped aside following allegations of theft.

The new deputy chairwoman, Margaret Jones, from Bishop Auckland, chaired the council in 2004/5 and has stood in for Councillor Murphy at a number official functions over the past few months. She will also act as his consort.

Coun Murphy, a father-of-three, has chosen Crook and District Parent Carers as his official charity for his term.

Born in Peterhead, Scotland, he joined the RAF in 1960 at the age of 15 and worked as an assistant air traffic controller.

He left after 15 years and lived in London and Kent before moving to North Yorkshire as a bar manager in Richmond's Unicorn pub.

He later worked in the personnel department at Durham City Council for 15 years.

He worked part-time for Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council for four years before retiring early because of epilepsy.

He joined the council 11 years ago, chairs information service Signpost and is a committee member at volunteer agency 2D.

He said: "I am so pleased I ended up in Crook. Everybody knows me and I feel very much a part of the community."