Paul Ellison and Ray Smith - Man of Rochdale 2019 joint winners

Date published: 22 November 2019

Two men have been named as the joint winners of the Man of Rochdale 2019 - Paul Ellison and Ray Smith.

The two were announced as this year’s Men of Rochdale at a luncheon at Rochdale Town Hall on Friday (22 November), making them the 26th Men of Rochdale since the event began in 1994.

Both Paul Ellison and Ray Smith are heavily involved in the 'In Bloom' initiatives throughout the borough. Mr Ellison has been on the Rochdale In Bloom committee for nearly five years and Mr Smith has been on the Pennines In Bloom committee for over seven years.

Former councillor Robert Clegg OBE, chairman of the Man of Rochdale committee, announced the men as joint winners, saying: “The committee this year have come to the decision to have two winners, as we recieved multiple nominations for both of these men. If we awarded just one of them, then it is likely that it would have been a very long time before the other received it.

"They must know one another, but I'm not sure if they work that closely. However, what I am sure about is that both of them have made a major difference to Rochdale. You can see it every day as you go about your business, they have been actively improving the environment of this borough for many years.

"One of them, I see regularly dipping his watering can into the canal at Littleborough to water the plants planted by Pennines In Bloom.

"The other, as you go up into Norden, you see a very beautiful flower arrangement by him, sponsored by Marshalls, and his name has already been mentioned once tonight as the person who arranged the World War One pop up garden in Rochdale town centre.

"Both of these people are involved greatly in the borough in bloom - Ray Smith and Paul Ellison are our Man of the Year."

 

 

Mr Smith said: "Talk about a bolt out of the blue! I knew nothing about even being nominated for the award, never mind being the winner. It's funny as both myself and Paul said to each other before, 'what are you doing here?'.

"This is my first time at the ceremony and I just can't believe it."

Mr Ellison said: "Me and Ray have such a great relationship. We are In Bloomers at heart.

"We always have a joke about who is better - Rochdale In Bloom or Pennines In Bloom - and I think this award has been made extra special as it has recognised both the groups and all the work done voluntarily by In Bloom members.

"In Bloom is massive now, not just here in the Rochdale borough, but in so many towns.

"We are shocked."

The men were presented with the plate bearing the names of all previous titleholders by last year’s Man of Rochdale, John Kay, who spoke before handing over the trophy.

He said: "It is incredible that twelve months have gone by already since I was named the Man of Rochdale. I was delighted to become the 25th Man of Rochdale and shall take it with me wherever I go."

55 local men were nominated for the title this year, including John Bannister, Andy Kelly, Steve Connellan, Jimmy Mulgrew (Cricket), Paul Whitman and Business Person of the Year Ben Boothman, to name a few.

After nominees and their guests were treated to a four-course meal, entertainment was provided by this year’s guest speaker - Zimbabwean former footballer Bruce Grobbelaar.

Mr Grobbelaar, who is most prominently known for playing as goalkeeper for Liverpool between 1981 and 1994, entertained with comedic tales and highlights from his football career.

Mr Grobbelaar said: "I am proud to be in this amazing building, witnessing the amazing architecture, and I am proud to be at a Springhill Hospice celebration with so many faces. I encourage all to give generously."

Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin, said: “Entertaining Mr Grobbelaar in the Mayor’s Parlour has been an amazing privilege for me as he is a football legend. We swapped a lot of stories and become good friends, and that is what the love of football is all about. What a gentleman he is.

“I was delighted to attend the Man of Rochdale luncheon as the Mayor this year, sitting on the top table, and was honoured to start the day off by saying grace.”

 

 

The Man of Rochdale luncheon this year had the most attendees it has ever seen, being a sell-out with 265 guests present in the Great Hall of Rochdale Town Hall.

At last year’s luncheon, a brilliant £7,000 was raised for Springhill Hospice.

Sophie Ainsley, Corporate & Partnerships Fundraiser at Springhill Hospice, said: “Our Man of Rochdale event is one of the most popular events in our annual calendar. It is always an honour to watch the new Man of Rochdale be crowned on this very humbling afternoon and has been a great social occasion for all of our guests."

To raise further funds for the hospice this year, a painting by local artist Geoff Butterworth of Rochdale's World War One Memorial Garden and Town Hall was auctioned at the event. The highest bidder was John Swinden, 'The Singing Jeweller', who placed the highest bid of £1,900.

John, owner of J&D Alexander on The Walk, also donated a £1,000 jewellery voucher for the events raffle.

 

 

Toastmaster for the event was Alan Calow, who has now been the toastmaster for the event for 24 years.

Sponsor of the luncheon was Jackson Jackson and Sons Ltd. Kieren McDonnell, Operations Director at Jackson Jackson & Sons, presented Springhill Hospice with a cheque for £1,400 at the luncheon on behalf of Rochdale Business Awards, which was also hosted earlier in the month at Rochdale Town Hall.