Andrew served the college well

LONG-SERVING Nelson and Colne College board member Mr Andrew Buchanan has stepped down due to his appointment earlier this year as a full-time employment judge.

Former solicitor Mr Buchanan has not found it possible to combine his new duties with continued membership of the college board.

He joined the board in January, 1999, and became chairman in January, 2003 – a position he held until he stepped down at the end of last year.

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In December Mr Buchanan, who was educated at Nelson Grammar School and the University of Liverpool, was appointed by the Lord Chancellor as a full-time employment judge in the tribunal offices in Newcastle,, Carlisle and Thornaby-on-Tees.

While he still lives locally, he spends much of his working week in the North-East and has reluctantly decided to step down as a college board member as it has not proved possible to combine the two roles.

Mr Buchanan joined the local firm of solicitors, Southerns – then known as Southern, Jobling and Ashworth – in 1977 as an articled clerk and became a partner in 1981. The firm merged over the years and became known as Southerns in 1999 and has offices in Nelson, Colne and Burnley.

Mr Buchanan retired from the firm at the end of last year in order to take up his new role. His wife Christiana is a solicitor and senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service and a director of the Marsden Building Society. They have two children - Robert, who is a lieutenant in the British Army, and Kate, who has recently qualified as a solicitor and who practises in the City of London.

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Mr Buchanan said: “I consider it a great privilege to have been able to serve as a member of the Board of Corporation of the college for 10 years – seven as chairman – and I will always take a great interest in the work of the college.”

College principal Lyn Surgeon said: “Andrew has been a highly committed member of the board and an excellent chairman for the last seven years. During this period he has led the board through two ‘outstanding’ Ofsted inspections and a major building project.

“Mr Buchanan cared passionately about our students and always focused on their needs and the quality of the experience that they received.

“We would wish to record our thanks for the service he has given to this college and the great contribution he has made to further education in Pendle.”