Civic honour for Oldham treasure Freda

Pictured at the presentation of the Civic Appreciation Award are (from the left), council leader Jean Stretton, the Mayor, Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman; local historian Freda Millett, and Councillor Howard Sykes, leader of the opposition

POPULAR local historian, writer and Oldham treasure Freda Millett has become the first woman to receive an Oldham Council Civic Appreciation Award.

She received the honour — introduced in 2012 — during a ceremony at the Civic Centre.

The author of 13 local history books, Mrs Millett started to work for Oldham council as a part-time library assistant when her children were young and went on to become Oldham’s assistant curator and keeper of local history, organising many exhibitions at the former museum in Greaves Street.

She was also a founder member of Oldham’s Children’s Holiday Homes, which provides holidays in Wales for disadvantaged children

Mrs Millett, who lives in Dobcross, retired in 1994 and received the Woman of Oldham award a year later. She continues to research and write and is a regular speaker at events.

She is the fifth person to receive the Civic Appreciation Award and was nominated by former council leader and mayor, Councillor John Battye, for “outstanding services and dedication to the borough”.

Council leader Jean Stretton said: “There are books that record the history of Oldham in a dry, statistical way but Freda’s books aren’t like that. They have a flowing style, drawing on the memories, photographs and personal recollections of residents. She is without doubt the single most important figure in the recording of the social history of Oldham.”

Mrs Millet said she didn’t feel worthy of being chosen: “Thank you very much, it’s absolutely lovely.

“People have asked me a lot why I do so much about Oldham, why I’m so fond of Oldham. I know it can be very scruffy sometimes, but I love the place. I’ve been defined by it.”