About Me

Please click the link on the left "The Riley Story" for information about my family history.

I was born in Blackburn, Lancashire in 1938. The last of 13 children, my father worked as a Fisherman while my mother had more than enough to contend with looking after the family.

I attended St.Joseph’s Primary School in Blackburn, before moving on to St.Mary’s College also in Blackburn. The reason I could attend St.Mary’s was although others in my family had passed their 11 plus I was the only one that the family could afford to buy a uniform for.

I joined the Royal Air Force in 1956 and served in Malaya for 3 years working on a squadron where my trade was Aircraft engines. After completing my 5 years in the R.A.F, I moved into the world of selling, eventually finishing up as a National Accounts Manager with a German company.

In 1962 I met my wife Joan, in a pub in Blackburn! We married 18 months later settled in Blackburn and raised three children, Michelle, Sharon and Nicola who have since grown up and given Joan and I, three beautiful (if exhausting) grandchildren - Lauren, Millie and James. From Blackburn we moved first to Leyland for eight years before finally settling in Fleetwood, where we continue to live today.

I became interested in politics in 1977. At that time due to the apparent inadequacy of the local council, the area was badly flooded and it was obvious that little had been done to secure proper sea defences. After a long and sometimes bitter fight a group of us were elected and eventually proper sea defences were constructed. I was elected to Wyre Borough Council in 1979 and have served as a member of the Council since then.

I became a County Councillor at the 2001 local elections and again in 2005.

I am a Governor the Adult College at Lancaster and a Director for Lancashire County Developments Ltd. (L.C.D.L.). The purpose of the Company is to deliver amongst many other things,on behalf of the County Council, Economic Development and Tourism. I have also recently been appointed Vice Chairman of the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee. I am delighted with this appointment for information about what the committee does please go to the link Above.

I have now been appointed as Deputy Chairman for the Adult Social Care and Health Committee.A challenging position.

In the little spare time that I have I enjoy photography and D.I.Y. 

On the 18th May 2007 I was made Mayor of Wyre Borough Council and thoroughly enjoyed my year in that office..