Pride and joy of being mayor

Cllr Olwen Chadderton Mayor of Oldham 2012 to 2013

NEW Oldham Mayor Councillor Olwen Chadderton spoke of her pride and joy at having the opportunity to represent the borough.

Councillor Chadderton took the Mayoral chain from Councillor Richard Knowles at a special ceremony — the annual mayor-making — at the Civic Centre today.

She said: "This is a great honour and privilege that you are bestowing on me today.

"As a Failsworth girl born and bred of Welsh parentage, to represent the Borough of Oldham as Mayor is the most wonderful accolade you could give me and leaves me with a deep sense of pride and joy."

Citing her strong background in politics and trade unions from her coal-mining father, she paid tribute to Councillor Bernard Judge for encouraging her to become involved in local politics, adding: "So you can blame it all on Bernard.

"The run-up to today has been busy. It has prepared me for what is to come and I know it will be hard and tiring work but I am looking forward to it immensely.

"I look forward to meeting the volunteers who help make the borough what it is, the children with their energy and brilliant enthusiasm and the whole kaleidoscope of people and organisations who bind our borough together."

For her Mayoral charities, Councillor Chadderton chose The Alzheimer's Society, saying dementia has been too long ignored in terms of research, support and campaigning with 1,200 undiagnosed in the Oldham area alone; Oldham Young Carers, to support child carers by offering individual counselling, advocacy, advice and information, group social activities, and workshops; and Oldham Liaison of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Fund, to help ex-servicemen and women in difficulty.

Councillor John Hudson was made Deputy Mayor.



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