To keep up with Rochdale news sign up to the MyRochdale newsletter here Richard Farnell, former two-time Labour leader of Rochdale council, has died aged 62.
Mr Farnell became one of the youngest council leaders in Rochdale 's history when first taking up the role in his late-20s in 1986.
Leader of Rochdale council, Neil Emmott, paid tribute to Mr Farnell and said: “This is a very sad day for me personally and professionally.
I first met Richard in the 1980's when I was cutting my teeth politically. "Over the subsequent four decades, I was proud to be a friend and colleague.
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