Rochdale Man of the Year - Father Arthur Neary

Father Arthur Neary presented with the Rochdale Man of the Year Plate

Father Arthur Neary is this year's Rochdale Man of the Year. Father Neary, hospital chaplain and chairman of the Friends of Our Hospital campaign group, was pleasantly surprised to be revealed as the winner of the award at the 14th Men of Rochdale Luncheon in the Great Hall at Rochdale Town Hall this afternoon (Friday 30 November).

Over 200 guests gave Father Neary a standing ovation when the award was announced.

Revealing Father Neary, the Chairman of the Friends of our Hospital, as the winner from nineteen nominations, Councillor Robert Clegg, Chairman of the Men of Rochdale Committee, who choose the winner each year, said: quot;It took the committee all of two minutes to make the decision. Father Neary is not a man who craves the limelight or makes lots of public appearances but he has done a phenomenal amount for Rochdale however, he has done a tremendous amount for Rochdale in the past 20 years and he goes about it in a quiet, methodical, practical but effective way."

Councillor Clegg added that Father Neary had been chosen not just for his work in opposing the downgrading of services at Rochdale Infirmary over the past year but also for his long term work providing pastoral care for patients and staff at the hospital.

Accepting the award, Father Neary said: quot;What can I say? I am very surprised but deeply grateful.

"I was born in Crumpsall but moved to Littleborough 22 years ago and consider myself a Rochdalian. I am proud to be associated with Rochdale and with The Friends of our Hospital.

Thank you for all the support you have given the hospital campaign, even though we have not got the outcome we wanted, the campaign has not gone away and we continue trying.

I am overwhelmed and honoured to be Rochdale Man of the Year 2007."

And if Father Neary's pastoral role at the hospital needed any confirmation, it came when his hospital pager began bleeping as he ended his acceptance speech and before photos he was on the phone to find out if he was needed urgently.

There was more drama later as Guest Speaker Johnnie Casson was rudely interupted by a fire alarm and all the guests had to be evacuated from the Town Hall!