LONG-serving Thirsk town councillor Joe Salmon is to step down because of health problems.
The 57-year-old has to have kidney dialysis three times a week following renal failure, "which doesn't leave much time for community activities, sadly", he said.
Born in Ireland, he moved to Thirsk in 1976 and lives in Sowerby.
A former mayor, he chaired the town council's finance committee for some years.
In 1994-19955 he led efforts to save the Ritz Cinema, chairing the committee set up by the council. Fifteen months later it reconstituted itself as the independent Ritz Cinema Volunteers, and on whose management committee he served until last year.
He represented the town council for many years on the Community Care Association, the Thirsk Swimming Baths Trust and the Thirsk and Sowerby Flatts Trust. He also chaired a three-year joint County Library/Thirsk Civic Society project, from 1987-1989.
A former chairman and vice-chairman of Thirsk Civic Society, from 1987 to 1993, he helped them fight public inquiries, including the pylons and Bamletts' site inquiries.
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