Ex-council leader to be next mayor

Mayor-elect Councillor David Jones

FORMER council leader David Jones will take over the mayoral chains during a glittering hand-over ceremony.

The Chadderton councillor, who has chosen to support Diabetes UK, ACE Centre North and the RNLI during his year of office, will take over from Jim McArdle on Wednesday.

Wrexham-born, Councillor Jones spent his early life in North Wales and went on to have a long career as a science teacher before retiring in 2004.

Elected as a Labour councillor in 1980, he served St James’ ward until 1996 and was then elected to his current Chadderton South ward in 1999.

During his political career he has served as chairman of the education committee, leader of the Labour group on Oldham Council and council leader.

Councillor Jones said: “It is a great honour to be chosen to represent the borough as mayor and I am looking forward to my year in office.

“I will be supporting three organisations that are of great importance to me and many other people.

“It is thought that there are at least 10,000 people in Oldham who are known to have diabetes and I wholeheartedly support the work of Diabetes UK.

“The RNLI is an independent charity that saves lives at sea and relies on volunteers who are the heart of the organisation.

“Finally I will also be supporting the ACE Centre North in Hollinwood. This is a wonderful project that works with children and adults with learning or physical disabilities.

“It offers a wide range of services and expertise to improve quality of life through technology and is something I was closely involved in as chair of the education committee.”

New Mayoress Jean Jones was a councillor in Medlock Vale until she stood down at the last election. The new Deputy Mayor and Mayoress will be Councillor Richard Knowles and his wife, Valerie.

Oldham’s new youth Mayor, still to be confirmed, will be installed next week.