DECADES of experience in local government makes Bill Taylor the man for the job when it comes to fighting the corner of Vale pensioners.

Mr Taylor, aged 83, is the vice-chairman of the Evesham and District Pensioners' Association and is at the forefront of a campaign against Wychavon District Council's plans to abolish travel tokens for the over 60s.

He believes it is unfair to the elderly and that money could be saved elsewhere.

Beginning his working life as a junior reporter at the Wolverhampton Express and Star, Mr Taylor left after two years to join the gas department of the town's district council in 1937. In those days local councils used to be responsible for the production and distribution of their own gas, electricity and water supplies.

The father-of-one said: "When war broke out I went and volunteered for the RAF for seven years. After that I returned to my job in local government - previous employers were compelled to take you back. I went back to the gas board and then later joined the electricity section."

In 1948 the nationalisation of gas, water and electricity supplies was ordered by central government under their 'Big is Best' principle. Mr Taylor said: "The loss of the council's gas, electricity and water works reduced their income. That had kept the rates steady but losing that income meant the rates started to go up and up."

Mr Taylor transferred to a job as an accountancy administrator at Staffordshire County Council where he remained until 1969. He then went to Kidderminster Borough Council as a programming officer. The position involved him setting targets for various departments in relation to the amount of houses, roads and sewers the council built.

The retired officer said: "I do not think people realise the importance of local government - the apathy of voters is appalling - less than 30 per cent. Local government officers and civil servants cannot express their political views, but it is not the councillors that run the council, it is the officers."

He added: "The officers carry out the policy of the councillors but if staff went on strike we would have problems all the way round. Every aspect of the lives of residents would be effected."

Mr Taylor's final post before retiring from local government in 1976 was as a principal administration officer at Wyre Forest District Council. But rather than putting his feet up after retiring, the experienced officer was keen to put his skills to good use.

Mr Taylor became a monitoring officer for the West Midlands Housing Corporation where his remit was to ensure public funds were being properly spent. Later he did volunteer work for various organisations including Worcestershire Housing Association and Abbeyfields Housing Associations, before finally moving to Evesham to be closer to family in August 1993.

The pensioner's association with the EDPA began five years ago when he attended a meeting and was nominated as the association's secretary. He was later appointed to his current role of vice-chairman.

While his main focus of interest in local government is now concentrated around issues that affect the elderly, Mr Taylor remains concerned about the continual reforms to a system that has been such a big part of his life.

He said: "Now there are government proposals to form regional councils with another tier of government to take over our lives - but at what cost? Local government, since the beginning of the last century, has grown like a giant octopus with the resultant increases in yearly taxation way above the cost of living increases."