Colin Fielding crowned Man of Rochdale

A dedicated community man has been crowned the ‘Man of the Year’ at a special luncheon ceremony organised by Springhill Hospice.

Nearly 200 guests attended the fifteenth annual Man of Rochdale Luncheon on Friday (21 November), held once again in the Main Hall at Rochdale Town Hall.

The winner, Colin Fielding, was chosen by the Committee for over twenty years of raising funds for many charities in the Borough via an annual art exhibition, and for the time and effort he has given to charitable causes, particularly the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Over the Edge’ Bike Ride, which has raised over £120,000 since Mr. Fielding first held the ride in 1997.

Top table guests included Councillor Robin Parker, Mayor of Rochdale, Rossendale Councillor Jim Mellor, Mayor of Whitworth, Paul Rowen, MP for Rochdale, Jim Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton, Councillor Robert Clegg, Chairman of the Men of Rochdale Committee, Father Arthur Nearey, Rochdale Man of the Year 2007, and Guest Speaker, TV comic Mick Miller.

Ian Jenkins, Fundraising Manager for Springhill Hospice and organiser of the event, which raises funds for the hospice, said, “In the traditions set by previous Men of Rochdale Luncheons, it was another great occasion and we are indebted to our two co-sponsors, the Beva Group of Rochdale and CBG EDN Insurance Services of Oldham for supporting the event.”

Unfortunately, Mr. Fielding could not attend the Luncheon due to work commitments, but Councillor Clegg went along to his cobbler’s workshop in Norden after the event to present him with the Man of the Year salver.