Ref. 26765MAYOR Derek Benfield will not be seeking re-election to Swindon Council.

When Coun Benfield's year in civic office comes to an end in May, he will not be a candidate in the June local government elections.

Coun Benfield, 71, who has represented Covingham and Nythe since 1992, was deputy leader of the council for seven years during some of the most turbulent years of recent Labour administrations.

He is also a former Labour group leader.

Although Coun Benfield's wife, Pam, 70, suffered a life-threatening stroke in November and was in a coma for 12 hours, he denies this was the catalyst for his decision to retire from politics.

It will come as a shock to many that he is stepping down, even though he insists he confided in colleagues two years ago it was his intention not to contest the 2004 election.

"I'm a doer, an action man, and it's not within my nature to sit back and be a follower," he said.

"All my life I've wanted to make things happen.

"But I'm 71 and it's time for someone younger to have a go.

"My decision has nothing to do with the fact that the Labour group is in opposition.

"It's just as important to be effective in opposition as well as when in power, but I feel the time has come for me to stand down gracefully."

Football-loving grandfather Coun Benfield has been a faithful fan of Swindon Town through the fruitful and lean years and will be remembered as a pillar of support to Coun Sue Bates (Lab, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) during her leadership of the council.

For several of those years it was a "hung" council with the Liberal Democrats holding the balance of power and Coun Benfield was seen very much as the diplomat of the administration, building bridges with other political parties in order to enable sensitive legislation to be voted through.

Coun Benfield, although a loyal member of his group, has never been a "yes" man and has always followed his consicence, such as in 1998 when he defied his party whip to vote in favour of keeping Oakfield School open.

He entered politics through Covingham Parish Council, of which he was chairman in the mid-1990s.

His hobby is making walking-sticks. He said: "I spent 39 years at Rover more than 37 of which were spent in management. It is therapeutic to be able to create something."

Neither is he without a sense of humour. Confessing to a passion for real ale in moderation, of course he said last year: "I reckon I would have to declare an interest in every pub in Swindon that sold Arkells beer. I transfered straight from national dried milk to Arkell's 3Bs."