Focus on Heywood: North Heywood Councillors

Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee, Councillor Peter Rush and Councillor Malcolm Bruce outside Heywood Railway Station

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As part of Rochdale Online’s Focus on Heywood this month Laura Wild caught up with the town’s Councillor’s to find out a little bit more about who they are and what they do.

The first instalment of the Councillor features is about North Heywood Councillors, Malcolm Bruce, Peter Rush and Doreen Brophy-Lee.

Councillor Malcolm Bruce, 67, has been a councillor for the past three years.

He is originally from Manchester and moved to Heywood when he was 28 years old; Councillor Bruce was a wood cutter for many years before his retirement.

He married his wife 19 years ago and aside from the council the couple have a new pet dog which is keeping them very busy.

He decided to be a Councillor following his involvement with Heywood’s New Deal for Communities. “I liked the idea of being able to help people,” said Councillor Bruce, “I enjoy being involved with the community.”

Councillor Bruce continued: “Politics is neither here nor there at this level, don’t get me wrong politics is involved but for me the part I enjoy is being with the community.

“My role as a Councillor is very similar to what I did with the New Deal so I just went from one to the other really.”

Speaking of the things Councillor Bruce has been involved in, the big thing that sprung to mind was the alley gating schemes on Mount Street and King Street.

“I was heavily involved in with the alley gating and it is something that has made a huge difference.”

Councillor Peter Rush has lived in Heywood for 50 years and has been a councillor for the past six years.

His main reason for becoming a councillor was to make Heywood a better place to live in.

“I wanted to help the people of Heywood through their problems from top to bottom.”

Councillor Rush has been involved in many issues; most notably he has spent a lot of time dealing with reducing anti-social behaviour in Heywood. His other forte is the environment.

When asked if he enjoys being a Councillor, Mr Rush’s reply was: “Very much so.”

“I can help people, and I am on call 24/7 whatever the problem I will be there and the achievement of getting a thank you is worth everything in the world – if I can make peoples living improve then I am happy.”

Councillor Rush said the highlight of being a Councillor is “being wanted.”

Aside from his involvement with the local authority Mr Rush is a member of the Heywood Rotary Club which he thoroughly enjoys.

“I enjoy physical activity, despite breaking my leg when I was knocked down by a vehicle in 2000.

“I love golf, I love all sport, such as Rugby League. I am the Chairman of the stadium company which I thoroughly enjoy.”

Councillor Rush is also a family man at heart, with his only family and an adopted family.

“I love family life – I have family all across the globe,” he said.

Doreen Brophy-Lee, 68, has lived in Heywood for 32 years and has been a Councillor for the past four years.

Councillor Brophy Lee became a local Councillor through her friendship with Sir Cyril Smith. She said he told her after years of friendship and working on the same committees for various other things in the borough: “Right Doreen Brophy stop sitting on the fence and stand to be a Councillor to represent the local people.”

Councillor Brophy-Lee didn’t get in the first time she stood to be a Councillor, but that didn’t put her off, and the year after, in 2006, she did get in.

Within 12 months Councillor Brophy-Lee became Cabinet member for housing, which she described as one of her best achievements.

Although she no longer holds that post she is still involved with the borough’s housing as a board member for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing.

Councillor Brophy-Lee said: “I love Heywood that is why I moved here, I enjoy helping people locally and anywhere in the borough.

Speaking about her favourite thing about Heywood, Councillor Brophy-Lee said: “I love the people, there is a sense of closeness here and it is very personal.”

Aside from her council involvements Mrs Brophy-Lee enjoys walking her dog and is a keen lover of the countryside.

Also in October Rochdale Online will be featuring West Heywood Councillors.