New Mayor looks to the next generation

PROUD moment . . . Councillor Jim McArdle receives his chain of office from attendant Dean Hay

Oldham’s next generation took centre stage when Councillor Jim McArdle was installed as the new Mayor of Oldham yesterday.

He was surrounded by his family including his grandchildren who carried shiny green balloons, as he made his opening speech as the borough’s first citizen.

But he also made way for three of Oldham’s young carers, Natasha West (12), Itshan Mahmood and Jack Morris, both 13, who described how they combine school with caring for a family member.

Young Carers will be one of the charities Councillor McArdle supports this year, as well as a children’s facility at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, and other deserving charities he is introduced to during his year of office.

And the Mayor also introduced his new “shadow” — Mohammed Adel, known as Eddie, a member of Oldham Youth Council.

Mohammed will be shadowing the Mayor during his year office.

Guests were also entertained by the Alexandra Park Junior School steel band.

Councillor McArdle, and his partner and Mayoress, Councillor Kay Knox, were invested with the traditional robes and chains of office in the council chamber, at a formal ceremony laced with good humour.

He was proposed by Councillor Jackie Stanton, who described how Councillor McArdle was Oldham born and bred, the son of an Irish immigrant whose father worked at Platts and his mother at the Werneth Spinning cotton mill.

When Councillor McArdle worked at Ferranti at Hollinwood for 20 years, he was also works convenor and shop steward.

Seconding the proposal, Councillor John Hudson described the new Mayor as “everybody’s favourite uncle.”

Councillor McArdle told guests, including the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mr Christian Wewer and the Bishop of Middleton, the Right Rev Mark Davies: “We need to continue to move Oldham forward to a brighter economic future.

“Kay and I want to be good ambassadors for the borough. We hope to promote Oldham in the positive light it deserves.”

Members also heaped praise on the retiring Mayor, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, for chairing the council through a difficult year when there was no overall majority.

Thanking him, Councillor David Jones, said: “You were heading into the unknown but you conducted yourself with a quiet dignity.”

Councillor Jones was also installed as deputy mayor, and his wife, Councillor Jean Jones, as deputy mayoress.

Councillor Akhtar’s Mayoral Appeal raised £10,700 for the Oldham Cancer Support Centre; £9,000 for a neo natal care bed, and £800 for a phlebotomy chair, at the Royal Oldham Hospital; £7,000 for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice; and £6,000 for the Oldham Education Trust.




£14,404 allowance for year in office



THE Mayor will get an annual allowance of £14,404 for his year of office.



The allowance is increased each year by inflation. The deputy mayor, Councillor David Jones, also gets an allowance of £2,759.

The allowance is approved by Peter Timmins, the Acting Borough Treasurer.