When voters go to the polls for the Medway Council elections in five weeks’ time, one name will not be on the ballot paper – for the first time in 52 years.

When lifelong socialist Paul Harriott first took his seat on Gillingham council, his present leader Vince Maple hadn’t been born. In fact Cllr Harriott had been representing his community for 16 years before his future successor’s arrival.

But now the 82-year-old stalwart has decided the time has come to call it a day.

As a former Labour group leader for many years, he has played a prominent role in shaping the Towns in turbulent times, including the closure of Chatham Dockyard.

But throughout his career he has kept his politics at grassroots level, committed to the interests of people who work and live in Medway.

“It was this ‘mañana, couldn’t care less’ attitude that made me think more about politics. I was asked to help a Labour candidate get elected in the local election and in the following year in 1962 I was asked to stand.” - Paul Harriott

He has a keen interest in housing issues and as chairman of the Gillingham’s housing committee was responsible for hundreds of homes being built. He oversaw the construction of three sheltered homes in the Gillingham and Rainham area, Marlborough House, Suffolk Court and Longfield Court. He also ensured that properties, some without bathrooms, were upgraded.

Speaking at his home in Twydall, he said: “Some properties were in an appalling condition. Just because people are poor it does not mean they should be deprived of a decent place to live.”

A former Korean War veteran, Mr Harriott came out of National Service where he was a sapper in the Royal Engineers and joined the dockyard as a technology officer.

He was local party leader when the devastating news of the imminent closure of the yard with the loss of 8,000 jobs broke.

Cllr Harriott joined ranks with Conservative politicians, Gillingham council leader Michael Lewis and leading county councillor John Spence to urge the government to reconsider.

He said: “It was the most difficult time for me. I remember us going as a united delegation to see John Nott the Defence Secretary. He gave us 10 minutes then rushed off to say he had to vote in the House and to help us ourselves to sandwiches and drinks. He didn’t listen to a word we said.”

Mr Harriott met his first wife Pauline, from Ireland, when she was a serving Wren, and they married in 1957. They had four children, Stephen, Paula, Michael and Jane.

Pauline, who joined him as a Labour councillor and also served on the county council, died in 1998.

He married Dorte Gilry 10 years later, also a councillor, who is re-standing in next month’s election.

“I am sure I shall miss it. But I’m not one to sit around and watch daytime television. And of course there is an election around the corner.” - Paul Harriott

Mr Harriott has lived in three houses in the same road in Twydall and said he would never move anywhere else.

He set up Twydall Labour Party headquarters in 1962, which has more than 280 members, and is still an active member.

Two years ago he arranged for the shadow health minister, Andy Burnham, to unveil a commemorative plaque to NHS founder Aneurin “Nye” Bevan at the club in Twydall Lane.

While his father was a member of the Labour Party, he got involved in politics almost by accident after an encounter with Gillingham’s Conservative MP, Sir Freddie Burden.

He said: “I had just returned from nearly two years in Korea where there had been heavy fighting. I was told to report to the bomb disposal unit at Brompton and was told I would be going straightaway on a training course.

“I had not had a break for so long and was due leave. I approached Freddie Burden to see if he could do something about it and he said there wasn’t.

“It was this ‘mañana, couldn’t care less’ attitude that made me think more about politics. I was asked to help a Labour candidate get elected in the local election and in the following year in 1962 I was asked to stand.”

Since then, apart from one year where he lost out by a handful of votes, he has consistently won back his seat, even bouncing back after a heart attack two years ago.

He said: “I am sure I shall miss it , but hopefully Dorte will still be on the council, so I shall get to know what’s going on. And I keep busy at the club and around the house.

“I’m not one to sit around and watch daytime television. And of course there is an election around the corner.”

Mr Harriott will also continue his work as a member of the Rochester Bridge Trust.