James Ashley (politician)
Encyclopedia
James Ashley was a Liberal Democrat
politician in the City
of Manchester
, England. He was the Lord Mayor
of Manchester, and a councillor
in the Gorton South
ward.
. He had two brothers and was married to Kate in 1992. They had three sons, a daughter, three daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Councillor Ashley enjoyed watercolour painting in his spare time.
He made political history in 1987, becoming the first Liberal Democrat councillor to win a seat from Labour on the city council. He served as a Councillor for Gorton South from 1987 to 2006. Ashley was Lord Mayor of Manchester from 17 May 2006 to 12 August 2006. He died in office.
His voluntary work included Victim Support, Gorton Community Forum, Blackley Civic Society, Charlestown Tenants and Residents Association, and the Management Committee of Sacred Heart Community Hall.
Councillor Ashley had been a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Building Section and was a member of the Northwest Regional Advisory Committee for Building and Civil Engineering.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician in the City
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England. He was the Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Manchester, and a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in the Gorton South
Gorton South
Gorton South is a Local Government ward in the Gorton area of the City of Manchester. The current councillors are Peter Cookson , Julie Reid and Charles Glover . The area was previously represented by James Ashley who was Lord Mayor of Manchester at the time of his death in 2006...
ward.
Personal life
James Ashley was born in Manchester 21 May 1940 and lived in GortonGorton
Gorton is an area of the city of Manchester, in North West England. It is located to the southeast of Manchester city centre. Neighbouring areas include Longsight and Levenshulme....
. He had two brothers and was married to Kate in 1992. They had three sons, a daughter, three daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Councillor Ashley enjoyed watercolour painting in his spare time.
Career
Ashley was appointed to the Manchester City bench in 1971 and served as a magistrate for 34 years. Ashley was the deputy president for the Manchester South Valuation Tribunal, an independent voluntary lay tribunal that resolves disputes concerning local taxes.He made political history in 1987, becoming the first Liberal Democrat councillor to win a seat from Labour on the city council. He served as a Councillor for Gorton South from 1987 to 2006. Ashley was Lord Mayor of Manchester from 17 May 2006 to 12 August 2006. He died in office.
Achievements
Councillor Ashley was instrumental in the creation of the Gorton Heritage Trail along the Gore Bank Valley conservation area.His voluntary work included Victim Support, Gorton Community Forum, Blackley Civic Society, Charlestown Tenants and Residents Association, and the Management Committee of Sacred Heart Community Hall.
Councillor Ashley had been a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Building Section and was a member of the Northwest Regional Advisory Committee for Building and Civil Engineering.