Surprise 'thank you' to the Mayor‏

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Peter Rush and
the Mayoress Monica Rush at the surprise party

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Peter Rush and the Mayoress Monica Rush were treated to a surprise thank you party this afternoon (Sunday 1 June).

The Mayor and Mayoress thought that they were to attend a fund raising event at Hopwood Unionist Club, Heywood, however, they received a telephone call to say that the Mayoral Car had 'broken down' and instead they we collected in an open top vintage sports car.

The vintage car Mayor Peter Rush and Mayoress Monica Rush
were driven to the surpise party in

On arriving at Hopwood Unionist Club they were taken by surprise to be greeted by over 100 supporters of the Mayor's Charity and other friends. The chairman of the Mayor's Charity Committee this year, Andy Kelly, welcomed them and thanked them for "the best Mayoral year ever".

The afternoon continued with tributes, including a letter from Jimmy Cricket, and with refreshments and entertainment.

It was a fitting end to an excellent Mayoral year.

Councillor Peter Rush will hand over to next year's Mayor, Councillor Carol Wardle, at the Mayor Making ceremony next Wednesday, 4 June.