THE son of Otley Independent town councillor Nigel Francis and nephew of the late Gerard Francis is standing in Danefield ward for a seat on Otley Town Council.

Callum Francis is one of the youngest candidates ever to stand but has experience at council level having been one of the youngest ever Town Mayor’s Consorts in 2017-18.

“My mother having been consort on three occasions decided that she did not want to commit herself to doing the job again, so I volunteered to step in and to become one of the youngest ever full-time mayor’s consorts," he said.

“There is a special place in my heart for Danefield Ward as I have lived in the ward all by life that both my father and uncle have over the years represented. They fought for many years working alongside a non-political team whose only interest was to preserve rural Wharfedale and especially the green areas around Otley.

“The East of Otley development can only be fought with a united front."

Callum was educated at All Saints CE Primary School on Lisker Drive and P.H.G.S. before attending Leeds City college for three years studying IT. He is employed by the Otley based builders merchants B&TS and works both in the office and on their trade counters.

He is on both the Otley Vintage Transport Extravaganza and the Otley Snowman Trail committees, and since an early age has helped to raise thousands of pounds on charity stalls and events in Otley and the neighbouring districts.