The noughties: what were the best bits?

IT’S the end of the line for 2009 and another decade is consigned to history.

But what have been the highlights of the noughties? KAREN DOHERTY asked shoppers in Tommyfield Market what their favourite moments of the last 10 years have been — with people citing everything from sporting success to life-changing events.
Lindsay O’Brien has two gorgeous reasons to celebrate the last decade: son Bradley (7) and daughter Ellie, who was born in 2008.

“They are definitely the best thing that has happened. I was over the moon and they have definitely changed my life for the better.

“They are so playful, especially when they are together,” said the 25-year-old from Waterhead.

But sport fan Marc Hannan (42), from Chadderton, said: “Brits winning the Grand Prix. It’s been a great decade for British sport and hopefully the England football team will carry it on in the World Cup in 2010.”

The election of Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States stands out for Beryl O’Brien (60), who lives in the town centre.

She said: “What Martin Luther King said has come true. I hope he does well for people in America and he might do something for world peace.”

John Connolly has turned his life around in the past couple of years — and thanked the staff at Addiction Dependency Solutions (ADS) and the Substance Misuse Service for their help.

“I used to have problems with drugs and drink and the support I have had has got me a lot better,” he said.

“If you had seen me 18 months ago I was eight stone, I was mess. Now I am 11 1/2 stone and I have got the respect of people and my family.

A personal highlight included doing voluntary work litter picking in Alexandra Park to help raise £500 for ADS, while he thinks a highlight for the town has been the new radiotherapy centre at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

“I lost my dad to cancer 15 years ago so it might be able to help people before it’s too late,” he added.

Pauline Chadwick (49), from Watersheddings, has enjoyed her working life over the last decade and explained: “I have worked at the Naked Bean, and I enjoyed it there, and now I am at the new Tesco.

“I just like shop work and meeting people — it really makes a difference if you like your job.”

But husband Tony (58) was more downbeat and said: “I think Oldham has not improved in the last 10 years, it’s gone down rather than coming back up.

“Tommyfield Market used to be one of the most famous markets in the world, now its gone. For Oldham as a traditional town, it’s not keeping its traditions.

“I used to be proud of Oldham. Now when you tell people where you come from, all they can remember is the riots.”

Elizabeth Foley (68) has celebrated the birth of two of her grandchildren and two great-grandchildren in the last decade and said: “I have got a great family. On Saturday mornings I will have a houseful.”

But she also reflected on the decline of Oldham, adding: “I came here from Ireland in 1960 and I always said it was like coming from home to home. People were so friendly but over the last 10 years Oldham has gone down for me.

“If I was younger I would be out of here.”