Ashby councillor Graham Allman has announced he will not be standing at the local elections in May.

Cllr Allman is retiring from the post after 20 years with Ashby de la Zouch Town Council.

He served as Mayor three times as well as being councillor with North West Leicestershire District Council.

In a statement, Cllr Allman said: "After 20 years as a Town Councillor - 'double hatting' with 12 years serving as a District Councillor - I have come to the point where I believe that I have given the community my best endeavours and shared my vast experience and knowledge, especially in the fields of finance, leisure and property development.

"Over the past 'undefeated' 20 years of continual service 'in office', I have had the honour to have served as Mayor and Chairman of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, with the courageous, continuous supportive of my wife Charmaigne as Mayoress & Consort three times, being the only councillor to have been so honoured, and voted to post by my fellow councillor colleagues. 

"My service also includes a period as Chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council, once more with my wife Charmaigne as my Consort. This included a period as Chairman of The Standards Board of England and Chair of the Scrutiny Committee.

"Together, Charmaigne and myself have tirelessly raised circa £70,000 for good causes, for which we were honoured to be invited, along with family members, to the world renowned, Buckingham Palace Tea Party on the Palace lawns, one of six times we have been presented to HRH Queen Elizabeth II, at different Royal Palaces.

"During my terms in high office, I was also accompanied by consorts from the local community including Dr Amrita Prasad GP, local entrepreneur Mike Briggs, Becky Maddocks, Daniela Price, Kate Hurd, Piers Allman, Pennelope Allman & Kirsty Quibble.

"In 2019, a record 6,000 people lined Ashby Market Street for The Remembrance Parade with myself escorting the Chair of Ashby British Legion, Lieutenant Commander Mrs Val Gale-Cox taking the salute. The Mayoress accompanied by Kirsty Quibble (Daughter) and Kate Allman (daughter in law) led the parade.

"Politically, I served as Chairman of The North West Leicestershire Conservative Association for three years assisting a Conservative candidate in his successful Parliamentary campaign swinging away from decades of Labour, and is still a serving MP. In 2021, I left the Conservative party to sit as an Independent conservative.

"It would be remiss of me not to highlight the superb support and advice given by officers and staff of Ashby Town Council without whose help all this would not have been possible.

"GOD SAVE THE KING".