Pipers lead Mayor’s parade

PROCESSION . . . the new Mayor of Oldham, Councillor David Jones, parades through the town centre

ARMED forces veterans, police officers and councillors paraded through the town centre as they officially welcomed Oldham’s new Mayor.

Councillor David Jones, who took over the post from outgoing Mayor Jim McArdle, was inaugurated at Oldham Parish Church.

A procession from the Civic Centre was led by Chief Supt Tim Forber and the Mayor’s Chaplain, Father David Hawthorne.

The Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Councillor John Battye, former mayors and council officers joined the parade which was led by the Oldham Scottish Pipe Band.

The group were met by ex-servicemen and members of local voluntary organisations at Market Place and the procession continued to the church.

The Bishop of Beverley, the Rt Rev Martyn Jarrett, led the service which included several hymns and a reading by Mr Hawthorne.

The new Mayor was made an honorary church warden for his year of office, which is a long-standing tradition in Oldham.