Ex-Councillors Receive Highest Honour

Six long serving Councillors are to receive the Freedom of Rochdale Borough Honour, at a ceremony on Sunday, 3 October.

Brian Ashworth, John Beasley, Rosemary Giffin, Brian Leather, Peter Roberts and Norman Smith will all be granted this special honour in recognition of their service. The Freedom of Borough Ceremony will be held in the Great Hall of Rochdale Town Hall, where more than 350 guests will attend to witness the event, starting at 5.00pm. Between all of the councillors receiving an honour, they have served as Councillors on Rochdale Council for 133 years.

Ex- Mayor Norman Smith raised £43,000 for local charities in 1986, equal to some £90,000 in present day values. Norman had an early interest in politics, joining the Liberal Party in 1967, and has since served on various committees, including vice chair of Housing Committee, Chair of Recreation, Libraries and Arts Committee, Chair of Social Services committee, and also Chair and Vice Chair of Rochdale Township Planning sub-committee. He was, in 1991, awarded the MBE by the Queen for public service, and will now be attending the event for the Freedom of Rochdale Borough Honour.

Also due to be present, receiving a much-deserved Honour is Mr. Peter Roberts. A Labour supporter since the 1960s in Liverpool, he joined Healey Ward Labour Party in the 1970’s and after two unsuccessful by-election campaigns he won the Middleton North seat in 1982 which he held until he stepped down earlier this year.

Whilst a Member of Rochdale Council, Peter occupied a number of offices including Chair of Social Services Committee and Chair of Policy Committee. Peter became the Leader of the Council in 1997, an office in which he held until stepping down. In this role he led the Council’s bid for Beacon Status for Community Cohesion, which led to Rochdale MBC being recognised nationally as a Beacon Council in this area of its work.

Brian Leather, a member of the Labour Party for over 35 years, and the Co-operative Party for 20 years, has held office in the Labour Party at both Branch and Constituency level. In addition he has been Election Agent at both local and county elections. His first venture into public service was as a parent governor at his children’s primary school. Then followed a foray as a candidate in local elections (Healey Ward). Although securing a good Labour vote, mainly due to the support of friends and colleagues at T.B.A., he was soundly beaten by a certain Councillor Brian Ashworth. Undeterred, he subsequently fought and won four elections for Labour in the Heywood North Ward. Brian takes great pride and satisfaction from his time as a Heywood Councillor. Apart from the workload and achievements, he retains and values numerous colleagues and friendships within the Heywood community. In 2000/2001 he became Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough. Apart from the privilege of being the first citizen, Brian and Eileen’s lasting memory are the number and scope of voluntary organisations throughout the Borough and, of course, the huge number of local volunteers who serve the local community.

An ex–mayor who also served on various committees’ is Brian Ashworth. Brian has served as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Rochdale Council, under both Alan Taylor and Paul Rowen. The numerous committees that Brian has served in includes four years as Chair of Resources Sub-Committee and as Chair of Rochdale Township Committee from 1999 until he stepped down as Councillor, the latter being a post that he valued highly as a Rochdalian born and bred. Brian was the Mayor of the Borough in 1991-92, when £51,000 was raised for the Charity THRIVE, Towards Healthy Rochdale Infants Vital Equipment – for Birch Hill Hospital.

Mr. John Beasley, joined the Labour Party in 1945, and has been an active member ever since, he has also been active in the Trade Union movement. He was a member of St Pancras Borough Council from 1956 to 1965 and was chairman of the Public Health Committee from 1962. He was a member of Brent Council from 1971 to 1974, again chairing the Public Health Committee. John was elected to Rochdale Council for a term for Castleton Ward in 1980. He then had a year off and was elected for Central and Falinge Ward in 1985, and remained there until 2004 when he retired from the Council. Among other positions he held he chaired the Housing and the Education Committees. Whilst in Brent he was a member of the Brent & Harrow Area Health Authority, and on moving to Rochdale was a member of the Rochdale Area Health Authority from 1981 to 1991.

Last but not least to receive the Freedom of Rochdale Borough Honour is Rosemary Giffin. Rosemary was elected for the Littleborough Urban District Council, then in 1973, became one of the three Councillors representing Littleborough on Rochdale Council, and it did not take long to find out that this was very different arena from the UDC! However, Rosemary soon learned to cope with the different approach and larger horizon - and to acquire a nodding acquaintance with politics.

The most famous name to previously receive this honour is Gracie Fields, in 1937. Other names include William Cunliffe (1919), Joseph Heape (1924), Sir Samuel Turner (1937), Alderman Charles Bryning, (1947), John Jefferson (1954), and the Citizens of Tourcoing (1981).