Jenny officially unveiled as Oldham's new Mayor

Councillor Jenny Harrison has been officially confirmed as the new Mayor of Oldham at annual council.

Cllr Harrison received the chains and robes of office this afternoon (Wednesday).

She was born to May and Thomas Smith at Crumpsall Hospital in 1947 and has one sister, Patricia.

They all lived together in her grandma’s New Moston council house until 1953 when Jenny’s parents secured a flat on Langley estate.

Cllr Harrison attended Langley County Primary where she passed the 11+ exam, before moving back to New Moston in 1959.

She attended North Manchester Grammar School for Girls, studying for her ‘O’ levels and then ‘A’ levels.

At 16, she had her first taste of work as a Saturday Girl at C&A Modes in Manchester and in student vacations worked at Stotts of Oldham.

On the day she left school, she became engaged to her Chadderton-based boyfriend Raymond Harrison.

Cllr Harrison qualified as a teacher in 1969 and married Ray in August that year.

However, he sadly died a week after daughter Rebecca's first birthday.

First-born son Daniel was born 18 months before Rebecca.

Cllr Harrison later became very close to Ray’s brother Philip and in August 1976, they were married at Oldham Parish Church.

They lived on Chamber Road, Coppice and she worked in several Oldham primary schools.

Their son Michael was born in 1978 and in 1981, they moved to Moorside where youngest child Andrew was born.

The new Mayor still lives in that house.

All four of her children are happily married and Jenny has six much loved grandchildren.

In May 2011, Jenny was elected as Councillor for Alexandra Ward, a seat she has held in two further elections.

She considers representing the people of her ward an honour and a privilege.

She feels honoured to be Mayor of Oldham and is proud of the way its people have risen to the challenges of a pandemic that has changed all our lives.

She wants to attend as many events and functions and meet as many Oldham people as possible. The theme for Cllr Harrison’s Mayoral year is Diversity and Inclusion, celebrating the richness and talent within our communities and championing the right of every individual to lead an inclusive life.

Her 2021/22 Mayoral Charities will be AGE UK Oldham, Andy’s Man Club, the Terence O’Grady Social Club, UKEFF, the Oldham Street Angels, POINT, Maggie’s Oldham and Inspiring Futures Partnership CIC (Inspire Women Oldham).

Councillor Shaid Mushtaq and Councillor Zahid Chauhan OBE will be the new Mayor’s Consorts.

The Deputy Mayor is Councillor Elaine Garry, and her Consorts will be Councillor Peter Davis and Councillor Graham Shuttleworth.

The Mayor of Oldham is elected to office by fellow councillors and serves a one year term of office.

The role of the Mayor is to be an ambassador for Oldham and to represent the borough at a variety of events and functions.

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