FUNERAL details for a former councillor, mayor and Honorary Freeman of Hartlepool have been confirmed.
Bryan Hanson, OBE, who became a councillor in 1963 and chaired several committees on Hartlepool Borough Council before becoming leader in 1974, died in hospital on Sunday after a short battle with pneumonia. He was 81.
Tributes have poured into the Mail following his death and family members have now confirmed details of his funeral.
The service will be held on Friday, March 1, at St James Church, in Shilbottle, Northumberland, at 11.45am.
Mourners are asked to dress in colourful clothes and representatives from Hartlepool Borough Council are expected to attend the service.
Mr Hanson (pictured), a former Cleveland county councillor, also played a pivotal role in the battle to regain independence for Hartlepool which resulted in the abolition of the county council in 1996.
The former Dyke House councillor served as mayor of Hartlepool in 1979-80 and finally bowed out of local politics in May 1999.
Hartlepool-born Mr Hanson is survived by his wife, former Hartlepool councillor Gwynneth, 82.
The pair, who moved to the village of Shilbottle, four years ago, had a son, Ron Hanson, 56, four grandchildren, Sophie Hanson, 29, Lottie Hanson, 32, Martha Williams, 27, and 24-year-old Toby Hanson and a great-grandson, 19-month old Iori.
Mr Hanson was made deputy lieutenant of Durham County in 1998, the same year the council made him an honorary freeman, and an honorary alderman in 1999.
He was awarded the OBE by the Queen in 1980.