Patrick Francis Burke:Patrick Francis Burke, a Dublin-born man, who after taking up residence in the UK became a fervent member of the Labour Party - where he rose last year to become deputy mayor of Rotherham in Yorkshire - has died aged 74. His death came eight days before he was to be installed as mayor - his proudest achievement.
Paddy Burke was born in 1933 and was raised in Ticknock, Co Dublin. He attended Sandyford National School and when his formal education concluded at the age of 14, he found work with the forestry department in the mountains close to his home.
In 1949, he moved to England where after several years of following work around, he eventually settled in Rotherham and took a job in the coal mining industry.
That started a long career in the mining industry, which saw him working at Thurcroft Colliery after completing his initial training at Treeton pit. He took a break from the coal industry when he became a paint sprayer at the AEI steelworks at Shepcote Lane. He also helped to build the Parkgate Steel Works, where he was a cable puller.
But in 1963, he moved back to Thurcroft pit where he became a face worker before moving to Silverwood at Dalton, where he worked for 25 years. In 1958 he married Mary; they had five children and were to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary during his mayoral year.
Dedicated to his family, he also found time to serve his community, managing local football teams, becoming a parish councillor and a local union representative at Silverwood Colliery, where he was proud to be part of the year-long miners strike of the 1980s.
Following retirement from the mines in 1986 he became more involved in local politics as vice-chairman of the Yorkshire Local Councils Association, eventually becoming a borough councillor in 1995.
During this time he also kept his passion for running and competed in the Dublin marathons of 1988 and 1989.
In appreciation of his hard work, honesty and genuine concern for the less fortunate, he was elected deputy mayor in 2006 and was set to become mayor yesterday. Knowing what it felt like to be an "outsider", one of his aims during his year as mayor was to champion the welfare of all people living in the Rotherham borough and to encourage everyone to engage with their local communities. Paddy was a well liked and respected member of the community, borough council and parish councils throughout the UK where he was an executive member of the National Local Councils Associations. He touched the lives of many with his unique brand of hard work, compassion and achievement. There were many tributes last week, and at his funeral yesterday, from colleagues in the mines and also from MPs.
John Healey MP and financial secretary to the treasury, said: "Paddy always gave 100 per cent . . . we have worked well together since I became an MP and I valued his advice and friendship over the years."
Paddy Burke: born March 2nd, 1933; died May 10th, 2007