Former Man of Rochdale, Alan Wrigley, celebrates his 90th birthday

Charity fundraiser Alan Wrigley’s 90th birthday was marked by his colleagues at the B&Q store in Oldham with a visit by the Mayor of Oldham on Wednesday 16 August.

Alan, who used to be the greeter at the Rochdale branch of B&Q and moved to the Oldham branch when the Rochdale store closed, has worked at B&Q for over 20 years. To mark this landmark birthday, his colleagues and the Mayor of Oldham came together to throw a surprise celebration, to thank Alan for his hard work at B&Q and beyond.

Alan’s colleagues at the Oldham store presented him with a B&Q 90th birthday cake, along with an extra special, personalised B&Q apron with a birthday message, in celebration of their cherished colleague.

Also attending the celebration, the Mayor presented Alan with a Mayoral Appreciation Award in recognition of his outstanding charitable work and support for local causes in Oldham. This special award is only issued by the Mayor of Oldham to remarkable individuals or groups who are deemed worthy of such high recognition during their Mayoral Year.

Over the last 20 years, Alan has raised more than £175,000 for local charities including Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Springhill Hospice, Shelter and the B&Q Foundation.

He was recognised with a commendation by the Mayor of Rochdale in 2015 in recognition of his efforts to raise money for Springhill Hospice and local charities in Rochdale. He was named Man of Rochdale in 2016 and awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019.
 

Read more: Alan Wrigley - Man of Rochdale 2016Published: 26 November 2016

 

 

Alan said: “It was a really nice surprise from my colleagues in store and the Mayor! Though some may say I should think about slowing down, I’m keen to carry on raising money for worthwhile and charitable causes.”

Drew Hunter-Fox, Deputy Store Manager of B&Q Oldham said: “Alan is a much-loved member of staff in store, so it’s only fitting that we marked his 90th birthday with this celebration. He’s known as a bit of a local celebrity in Oldham with his daredevil antics, and is adored by colleagues and customers alike. Alan is a truly fantastic ambassador for everyone at B&Q – and he isn’t slowing down, even at 90!”

The Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Zahid Chauhan OBE, said: “Alan is a magnificent member of our community who has worked incredibly hard over many years to support the needs of others – work that I am delighted to say, still continues into his 90s which is a true reflection on his personal character. His amazing charitable efforts have raised extraordinary amounts of money for many important causes close to so many people’s hearts in Oldham and we, as a borough, are all immensely grateful for the exceptional work he does.”