Ward-by-ward guide

Candidates for Oldham Council elections, May 5
* Denotes retiring councillor




ALEXANDRA
Jenny Harrison (Labour): has been an active Labour Party member for 35 years. The married mother and grandmother was a teacher for 30 years, 20 at Roundthorn Primary. She is an NUT and Co-op Party member.

Aftab Hussain (Liberal Democrat): A law student at University Campus Oldham, he has lived in Oldham since 1976. His interests include building bridges between communities and tackling anti-social behaviour.

Raja Amjad Iqbal (Conservative): A local businessman who has lived in Oldham for many years.





CHADDERTON CENTRAL
Eileen Hulme* (Con): A member of St Herbert’s Church and a former nurse, health visitor and college lecturer. She has been a Chadderton councillor for the past four years and has worked with a number of local community groups.

Pat Lord (Lib-Dem): Has lived in Springhead and Grotton for over 30 years, served on Saddleworth Parish Council for 16 years, twice as chairman. Pat is chairman of the Special Projects Committee and of the governors at St Anne’s Primary School, Lydgate.

Eddie Moores (Lab): Has lived in Chadderton Central for 26 years. He is a former railways manager and has fostering experience. He is chairman of governors at Mills Hill, and a governor at Blue Coat, schools.



CHADDERTON NORTH Dave Houle (Lab): A member of Unite and a member of the Institute of Management Services, he has lived in the borough for 22 years. He works for Royal mail as an HR manager.

Lewis Quigg (Con): A local born and bred. He lives and has been educated in Chadderton and has led a successful campaign against a proposed health club/massage parlour in Chadderton North.

Keith Taylor (Lib-Dem): A former member of Chadderton Urban District Council. He worked in sales management in cotton textiles, followed by a career at Manchester Polytechnic and Metropolitan University where he lectured in economics, politics, and history.



CHADDERTON SOUTH
Ken Heeks (Con): Has lived in Oldham for almost 40 years. He is chairman of Oldham West and Royton Conservative Association, a member of the West End Bowling Club and principal clarinet of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra. He is married with three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Fazal Rahim (Lib-Dem) Has lived and worked in Oldham for 24 years. He is a self-employed businessman and works with different faiths to help build a cohesive society in the borough through the Interfaith Forum.

Graham Shuttleworth (Lab): Has lived in Chadderton for 25 years and went to New Moston Secondary School. He worked for a major national insurer and was a well-respected trade union representative. As a parent and grandparent he is very concerned about education.



COLDHURST Montaz Ali Azad (Lab): Married with four children, has been living in Coldhurst since 1978. He went to Grange School and Hopwood Hall College, is a community worker and has been involved with voluntary groups including Oldham Bangladeshi Association, Greater Syhlet Development Council (North-West Region) and Oldham Central Jami Masjid and Islamic Centre.

Muhammed Dara (Con): A local community activist and columnist and has lived in Oldham for sometime.

Jilad Miah* (Lib-Dem): Managing director of a local company. He has lived in the ward for 29 years and has 11 years experience as councillor for Coldhurst.



CROMPTON John Dillon* (Lib-Dem): Has represented Crompton for 25 years. He is a former mayor and is currently Royton, Shaw and Crompton Community Champion, district partnership chairman and is Oldham Council’s representative on Transport for Greater Manchester.

David Dunning (Con): He is married with two sons and one daughter. He is a long-serving Shaw and Crompton parish councillor and has been chairman twice. He is a committee member of High Crompton Park and governor of Beal Vale and Rushcroft Primary Schools.

Ken Rustidge (Lab): A Heyside-born resident who went to Royton and Crompton School. He is a former secondary school teacher and is now a trade union officer. He is a major in the TA who served in Iraq on Operation TELIC in 2006.



FAILSWORTH EAST
Robert Barnes (Con): Has worked in local government for 25 years and currently works within the social housing sector.

Steve Barrow (Lib-Dem): Married with one child at University Campus Oldham and one about to join. He is a governor of the Oasis Academy, former chairman of Failsworth and Hollinwood FCHO local board, former vice-chairman of FCHO main board and an active member of the United Reformed Church.

Jim McMahon* (Lab), father of two, lives in Failsworth, and is leader of the Labour group. He is a governor at Failsworth School. He is founder and chair of the Failsworth Volunteer Centre, Director of Groundwork, Director of Oldham Credit Union, vice-chair of Moston Brook Steering Group, chairman of Failsworth War Memorial and Cemetery Group, organiser of Failsworth Remembrance Sunday, former Treasurer of Failsworth Carnival and co-founder and former Secretary of Failsworth Historical Society.



FAILSWORTH WEST
Warren Bates (Independent): A retired public sector worker and was involved in the fight to preserve land at Failsworth Lower Memorial Park.

Glenys Butterworth* (Lab): A Failsworth resident for 47 years, has represented the ward for four years. A grandmother, she has been involved with a number of projects including campaigns for the children’s centre in Propps Hall, Failsworth School, Rochdale Canal restoration, a new community centre and the restoration of Failsworth Town Hall.

Miranda Meadowcroft (Green): Oldham born, she is a former Bluecoat School pupil and has worked in community development in Oldham, Brighton and London.

Ron Wise (Lib-Dem): From Hollins, a retired police officer of 30 years and is now a driving instructor. Ron has been married to Christine since 1985. Ron is looking to represent the ward where he served as a police officer.



HOLLINWOOD John Berry (Independent): A married father of three and a forecourt sales assistant. He is standing for the second time as an Independent and is a former member of the Conservative Party.

Keith Pendlebury* (Lib-Dem): A councillor for eight years and is Oldham’s representative on the Greater Manchester Police Authority. A retired software engineer, he is a school governor and has been involved with many voluntary organisations and regeneration, community and equality issues.

Steve Williams (Lab): A former councillor who has lived in Hollinwood since 1968. He works for the Home Delivery Network at Shaw and is a governor at Limeside School, chairman of governors at New Bridge School, a board member of the local Contour estate board and First Choice Homes committees and board member of Oldham Credit Union.



MEDLOCK VALE
Zulfiqar Mohammed (Con): A local businessman employing local people, he has lived in Oldham for over 25 years. He has been chairman of the finance committee of Coppice Community Centre for six years and works with other voluntary organisations.

Rafiq Pazeer (Lib-Dem): Married with two children, both at university. He is a graduate in nuclear engineering. His interests are improved education, better housing and a cleaner and safer Medlock Vale.

Kaiser Rehman (Lab): A law graduate who runs his own businesses and works for a number of charities. He has been a Labour activist for 10 years. His interests are education and healthcare facilities in Oldham and a Co-operative council.



ROYTON NORTH
Kevin Dawson (Lib-Dem): A retired warehouse manager who is currently a voluntary political assistant. He is a member of the Oldham Partnership Steering Committee and Oldham East District Partnership. His interest is empowerment of local communities in making local decisions.

Joe Farquhar (Con): An active member of the Royal British Legion and has been an Oldham magistrate since 1977. He is a former member of Greater Manchester County Council (1977-81), had two terms as councillor and was Mayor of Oldham in 1995-96.

Tony Larkin* (Lab): Married with three children and a grandchild, has lived in Royton for 31 years and has represented the ward from 1996-2000 and 2003 to date. He works for Usdaw trade union as assistant health and safety officer.



ROYTON SOUTH
Steve Bashforth* (Lab): A local man who is married with three children and a grandson, has represented the ward since 2003. He was involved in the relaunch of Heyside Neighbourhood Council. He attended Byron Street and Royton and Crompton schools and now works as a self-employed electronic security designer. He is a member of the GMB union and the Co-operative Party.

Keith Begley (Lib-Dem): Retired from a varied career in local government, sales and manufacturing. He has lived and worked locally for 40 years. Keith, who is married with children and grandchildren, is chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council.

Allan Fish (Con): A retired builder, he is married to Marie and they have three daughters and seven grandchildren who have all attended local schools.



SADDLEWORTH NORTH
Sean Fielding (Lab): A civil engineering student and brass band musician. His interest is protecting Saddleworth from the worst of the spending cuts.

Derek Heffernan* (Lib-Dem): A retired civil servant and borough councillor for 16 years, is involved with health and learning disabilities. He represents Oldham on Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Authority and works for Macmillan Cancer Support, Saddleworth Parish Council Chairman’s Charity, the Mayor’s Appeal and other charities, including Whit Friday.

Ken Hulme (Independent): A Saddleworth parish councillor, he was involved in the successful campaign against wind farms on Denshaw Moor, opposed the closure of Delph Library, the congestion charge and plans to redevelop Delph Independent Chapel.

Phil Sewell (Con): Married with three daughters and is a director of a bakery operations food company. He is a member of Diggle Community Association and involved with Diggle Whit Friday contest.



SADDLEWORTH SOUTH
Dilys Fletcher MBE (Lab): A mother of five, was born in Oldham and is an ex-councillor with experience in housing. She has worked for the Audit Commission and is a committed Co-operative member. Her interests are housing and education.

Phil Renold (Lib-Dem): Taught history at Saddleworth School and ran the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. He works part-time as an NVQ assessor and verifier. He has been a parish councillor for 12 years and is a volunteer at Delph Library.

Graham Sheldon (Con): Married with three adult sons. Subpostmaster at Uppermill. He has lived in Saddleworth all his life and is the church organist at St Mary’s, Greenfield.

Dominic Wall (Green): A special school head teacher and set up Kingfisher School in Oldham in 2000. He has lived in Greenfield for 20 years, and his three children attend local schools. He is a governor at Saddleworth School, is a coach with Saddleworth Rangers under 13s, and helps run Greenfield Village Olympics team.



SADDLEWORTH WEST AND LEES
Adrian Alexander (Lab): From Moorside, he has played rugby for Oldham, Harlequins and England and worked as a mobile security patroller for First Choice Homes.

Pam Byrne (Con): Runs her own business and tea rooms. She is a former member of Oldham Community Council and is membership secretary at Saddleworth Business Association. She is involved in charity fundraising and Whit Friday, and the Oldham area band contest committee.

Brian Lord* (Lib-Dem): A Springhead resident for 45 years, he has been a borough councillor for 13 years. He is a member of the Cabinet and former chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council with 24 years service. Brian is chairman of governors at Saddleworth School and a governor at Springhead Infant and Nursery School.



SHAW
Mark Alcock* (Lib-Dem): Lives in Shaw with his daughter and grand-daughter. He has been a borough and parish councillor for Shaw for the last four years. He has led the campaign at www.SaveBealHey.org.uk to save Shaw tip.

Phelyp Bennett (Con): A former chairman of Shaw and Crompton Parish Council. He is a trustee member of Dunwood Park Committee and a member of the local parish environment sub-committee.

Amanda Chadderton (Lab): Lives in Royton and attended Our Lady’s RC High School and Sixth Form before studying at Huddersfield University. She works as a licensing officer for Manchester City Council and has previously worked in an MPs office dealing with constituents concerns.





ST JAMES
David Caddick (Con): Married with a family and is a keen fisherman. He is secretary of Lancs Federation of Conservative Clubs, chairman of the local Home Safety Committee and a former parish councillor.

Stephen Fairbrother (Lib-Dem): Lives in Moorside and attended St Thomas’s Primary and Blue Coat School. He worked in the textile industry, was a self-employed window cleaner, and now works in property maintenance for a local company. He coaches and competes with Oldham and Royton Harriers, and has worked with the Oldham Sports Development team.

Nigel Newton (Lab): grew up in Derker and has lived there for 40 years. The former apprentice plumber worked his way up to become managing director before setting up his own business. He is a governor at Oldham College and Waterhead Academy and a board Mmember of First Choice Homes.



ST MARY’S
David Atherton (Con): Married with four sons. He is a retired GP who was the doctor to the British Amateur Rugby League team, and a former parish councillor who served as chairman twice.

Ajawat Hussain (Lib-Dem): A self-employed businessman who has lived locally for almost 20 years. He is married with three children. He works with local voluntary organisations using his local knowledge.

Shadab Qumer* (Lab): Married with children, a businessman who opened a carpet business in 2002, and sponsored sports clubs.



WATERHEAD
Neil Allsopp (Con): Married with an adult son. He is a retired pharmacy stores manager at a local NHS hospital and he supports the mountain rescue team and Ghurka welfare.

Stuart Allsopp (Independent): lives in the ward he hopes to represent in Littlemoor. He is employed developing music industry merchandise and ticket stores at Virtek in Uppermill.

Peter Dean (Lab): Has 30 years experience as a councillor. He is vice-chairman of Oldham Primary Care Trust and has held several cabinet positions on Oldham Council. He is involved with a number of local charities and works as an adviser to Michael Meacher MP. He is chairman of Oldham Labour group.

Kay Knox* (Lib-Dem): Lives in Waterhead and has represented the ward for 23 years. A governor at Oldham Sixth Form College and Littlemoor School, she has been vice-chairman of Greenacres Community Centre for the last 20 years and is involved with many local community and sports clubs.



WERNETH
Asghar Ali (Lib-Dem): Has lived in Oldham for over 35 years where has his own business. He is married with five children.

Muhammad Imran (Con): A local businessman employing local people in Oldham. He is a law graduate and a member of Coppice Community Centre.

Javid Iqbal* (Lab): Married with three children and has run a local business since 1967. He lives in Werneth and is interested in holding street surgeries, improving the bridge at Oldham Sixth Form College and supporting community groups.