Chadderton badge pride

Chadderton Historical Society secretary Michael Lawson shows off the new badges with pride.

PROUD Chaddertonians can wear their colours on their chest.

That’s because the town’s historical society has produced two badges featuring the Chadderton Griffin.

The first is on sale at a nominal price of 20 pence and people have been snapping them up at local events. A total of 1,000 were produced — with one resident alone buying 100 for family and friends.

A smaller, die cast badge has now also been made with 100 on sale at £2.50 each.

The society decided to act after Oldham Council’s rebranding saw the borough adopt a new blue and white logo which has also been used as a badge.

It has been nicknamed everything from a “polo mint” to “nul points” and historical society secretary Michael Lawson said: “The new polo mint design has been widely ridiculed and does not represent Chadderton in any way whatsoever. It is not an inclusive symbol and is very unlikely to unite the borough.”

The griffin has been associated with Chadderton since the mid-13th century. It comes from the arms of the Trafford family who took possession of the Manor of Chadderton and Foxdenton, adopted the name of the township and formed the Chadderton family.

Two griffins are portrayed on the Chadderton coat of arms and two are also used to support Oldham’s coat of arms.

Mr Lawson added: “Showing pride in Chadderton does not detract from any re-branding in the wider borough. Hemisphere, the re-branding consultants, themselves have stated quite unambiguously: ‘this does not mean we are suggesting that everyone becomes Oldhamers — far from it — we would encourage people to describe themselves at Chadderton-ians etc as it celebrates the diversity of the place as a whole.’.”

People who want to buy a badge should contact Mr Lawson on 0161 652 3930.