Hundreds welcome new chairman Alma

PARADE day . . . Parish Council chairman Alma McInnes and her consort Ian, right, with youth mayor Mohammed Adil, Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, Mayoress Kay Knox and the Rev Paul Stringer

HUNDREDS of people gathered in Saddleworth yesterday afternoon to welcome Councillor Alma McInnes as the new chairman of the Parish Council.

The Lib-Dem councillor took centre stage in the procession made up of Diggle Band, members of the Air Training Corps and local scouts. Leaving the parish centre in Lee Street, they made their way to Station Road, Grove Street, Rush Hill, Carr Lane, Bridge Street, then High Street and arrived at Uppermill Methodist Church for a service.

The chairman’s husband, Councillor Ian McInnes said: “The procession was so big the police had to stop traffic.”

Church collections raised more than £300 for Macmillan Cancer Support and children’s charity Myasthemcia Gravas.