Loyalty, passion and dedication

OVER to you: Oldham’s new Mayor, Councillor Richard Knowles, wears the chain of office for the first time, witnessed by the Mayoress, his wife, Valerie, and retiring Mayor, David Jones

Civic pride as Councillor Knowles takes the chains

OLDHAM’S new Mayor, Councillor Richard Knowles, was installed yesterday, and promised to dedicate the year to flying the flag for the borough.

The former Lib-Dem council leader pledged to be a “good-news ambassador,” and said serving as the Mayor of Oldham was the culmination of his political and public service career.

“We all need to be more positive, and I am really looking forward to attending events and meeting the people of Oldham,” he said.

Looking back on a 35-year political career which saw him 10-times elected as a ward councillor, Councillor Knowles said: “I had no expectation of even becoming a councillor when I joined the Young Liberals in 1970 and moved to Oldham two years later — let alone becoming Mayor.

“I have seen massive changes in the borough, which was then still a mill town, and also in the council, which had much more freedom in deciding how to spend its money.

“Oldham is now much more diverse, industrial jobs have been lost and it is still a challenge to bring more jobs in.”

A passionate campaigner for transport and education in the town, it is fitting that both Metrolink and the Regional Science Centre will be launched during his year of office.

The Greenfield councillor also pledged to encourage more schools to become involved in “Grow Your Own” schemes, so children can experience planting, growing and eating home-grown food.

The Mayor’s Charity will this year support Oldham Promobility, which provides electric wheelchairs and scooters for disabled shoppers; Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Royton; and Barnardo’s, Oldham.

Councillor Knowles will set aside some of the money raised to smaller charities and organisations he comes across during his year as Mayor.

The council’s former deputy leader, Jackie Stanton, said the new Mayor and his wife, Valerie, the new Mayoress, had already given years of service to the borough.

She said Councillor Knowles, who is a professor at Salford University, and is recognised as a national and international academic leader in his field, had a “passion for politics and public service.”

She added: “Today he joins an elite group of people who have been both council leader and Mayor, and whose focus, commitment and contribution to public service shows loyalty and total dedication to our borough.”

Councillor Olwen Chadderton was installed as Deputy Mayor.