Former Ribble Valley Mayor and Well-known Farmer Dies
A former Mayor of Ribble Valley and well-known member of the local farming community has died.
Mr Peter Ainsworth, who was Mayor in 2006/7, passed away peacefully over the Easter weekend, aged 93.
Peter was the eldest child and only son of Richard and Mary Ainsworth and was the sixth generation of the family to live and work at Showley Fold Farm in Clayton-le-Dale.
He was educated at Salesbury Primary School and later moved to St Peter's senior school in Blackburn before leaving to start work on the farm.
He was married in 1958 to Thirza, having met her through the Young Farmers organisation, and they had four daughters Pauline, Valerie, Maureen and Elizabeth. Mrs Ainsworth died in 2009 after 51 years of marriage.
Peter was a member of the National Farmers Union since 1960 and became chairman of the Lancashire branch in 1989.
He was elected to Clayton-le-Dale parish council in 1976 as well as representing both Ramsgreave and Osbaldeston in later years. He also represented Clayton-le-Dale with Ramsgreave ward on Ribble Valley Borough Council until 2019 and was a committee chairman.
During his year in office as Mayor one of his first civic duties was to welcome the late Queen Elizabeth II to the Ribble Valley. He said “It was an honour to meet the Queen and have lunch with her at the Inn at Whitewell,” and was delighted to be invited to attend one of her garden parties at Buckingham Palace.
Peter leaves his sister, four daughters, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
His funeral service and burial will take place on Tuesday 21 April 2026 at St Peter’s Salesbury Church; family flowers only. The family have asked for donations in Mr Ainsworth’s memory to North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) and East Lancs Hospice.