Mayor Making Ceremony 2007 - Councillor Peter Evans is the new Mayor

Mayor Evans has the Mayoral chain placed upon him

4 More Image(s) In Gallery

Councillor Peter Evans was invested as Mayor of the Borough at the Mayor making Ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall on Wednesday 16 May.

Elected a councillor for Littleborough in 1996 Councillor Evans has served on the council continuously since. He served three years as Chairman of Pennines Township Planning Committee and has been a member of several other committees including Regulatory, Corporate Overview and Scrutiny and Pennines Township. He has also served as a Spokesman for Community Safety and is the LEA Governor at Holy Trinity School, Littleborough.

A former police officer, Councillor Evans hobbies include photography, music, reading and computing.

In his acceptance speech Mayor Evans gave thanks to departing Mayor Jean Hornby for her help in the past year as he served as Deputy Mayor. He added: ldquo;It is a terrific honour and pleasure to be able to serve the Borough as Mayor.” He went on to thank guests for attending and gave wholesome praise to Smithy Bridge Foundation Primary School Choir and Rochdale Youth Wind Band who had provided ldquo;superb entertainment” the quality of which he said left him ldquo;speechless.”

Mayor Evans will be assisted throughout his Mayoral year by Mayoress, his wife Mrs Helen Evans. Born in Guilden Sutton near Chester, Mrs Evans met Councillor Evans when she joined Cheshire Police and they married in 1965. They have three sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.

Conservative Leader, Councillor Ashley Dearnley has known the Evans family for may years and said; ldquo;Peter will make an excellent Mayor, he has a genuine concern for the community. He has always done his best for the Borough even if it has meant going against the party line. I am sure he will carry out his duties with distinction.”

Labour Councillor Lil Murphy, having been Mayor, explains that the job is in the main very pleasant but also very tiring requiring lots of stamina, however she added: ldquo;if I managed it at the age of 73 I am sure Peter will find it a doddle”. On behalf of the Labour Group she wished ldquo;Peter and Helen every success for what will probably be the most memorable year of your life.”

Councillor Elwyn Watkins, a Lib Dem colleague, felt that Mayor Evans eight years experience as a policeman would stand him in good stead as he chaired what can at times be very difficult Council meetings. He said: ldquo;Peter is sued to dealing with awkward customers; he is impartial but no one should mistake his gentlemanly manner for weakness”.

Deputy Mayor and Mayoress this year will be Councillor Robin Parker and Mrs Ann Jones.

Mayor Evans announced the Mayor’s Chaplain for his year of office would be the Reverend Andrew Howell and a Civic Service is to take place at 3.00pm Sunday 20 May in Holy Trinity Church, Littleborough.

This year the Mayor Evans, supported by the Mayoress, Mrs Helen Evans, will be raising funds for Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home. Donations may be made direct to:

The Mayor’s Office
Town Hall
Rochdale
OL16 1AB

Tel: 01706 924760
Registered Charity Number 1043910