Teacher to take up new mayor role

Mike Platt New Mayor of Austerlands 2016-17

FORMER deputy head of Blue Coat School Mike Platt is set to be in a class of his own as he chalks up the honour of new Mayor of Austerlands.

Mike (65) will be appointed the civic head of Oldham's smallest municipality on Tuesday (April 26) at Saddleworth's oldest hostelry, the Old Original, in Scouthead.

He will accept the clog-iron as a chain of office from out-going mayor David Buckley.

Former mayor Roger Fielding will conduct the 65-year-old formal proceedings - wearing red tailcoat and white box tie - which will be attended by previous Austerlands mayors wearing miniature clog-irons presented to them on their retirement.

Mike will be the 17th mayor since the tradition was re-introduced in 1998 following the discovery of the clog-iron at the former Red Lion pub on Huddersfield Road.

The Mayor of Austerlands origin dates back to the late 1940s with the clog-iron being introduced in the late 1970s.

The investiture traditionally takes place before the annual Whit-Friday brass band contest when the new mayor will be asked to lead the first band on to Dawson's Field.

As part of the proceedings Mike will become an honorary Yorkshireman, when he receives the customary Yorkshire emblem tie to be presented by Michael Hall of Saddleworth's White Rose Society.

Mike has lived in Austerlands for 36 years, moving to Oldham from his parents chip shop in Birmingham when he was six months old.

He has two children and two grandchildren.

His first teaching job was at Fitton Hill School before moving on to Blue Coat where he stayed for 34 years, the last 10 of which as deputy head.

A passionate supporter of Oldham Athletic he is a season ticket holder and a lifelong fan, first attending Boundary Park sixty years ago as a five year old. On retiring from Blue Coat he spent two years at Latics, helping out part time in the commercial department.

As Mayor of Austerlands Mike aims to raise money for Cancer Research and the NSPCC.