Community champion John is new Saddleworth Round Table chairman

A committed community champion has vowed to spearhead dynamic local projects despite the shadow of the  coronavirus.

Uppermill plumber John Arthurs, aged 30, is the new chairman of the Saddleworth Round Table, taking over from Andrew Rothwell, whose year saw the club donate a record £26,791 to 25 different local worthy causes.

Handing over the reins, Andrew said: “It fills me with pride our members and the wider community has enabled Saddleworth Round Table to donate a record amount of money to local worthy causes. 

“The team has grown in the last 12 months, seeing new members - Andy Butterworth, Andy Hardwick, Alex Smalley, Dan Langhorn and Andy Lees - instantly mucking in to make a difference to our events. 

“We started a new event, the Oktober Pie Fest, fine tuned Band in the Barn and improved our main event, The  Santa Dash, to hold more Santas than ever in Uppermill park. 

“We donated to 25 initiatives but what has stuck with me is the amazing work done at ‘Point’ charity, we enabled three coaches of children to go to Chessington World.

“The pandemic is not the best time for John to take over.

"However, it’s clear he is the best man to take Saddleworth Round Table forward. 

“He has been a leader for SRT since the moment he joined just over three years ago, always leading from the front, improving our events and steering meetings.

“I know he will lead us into an exciting future.

"He has already gained a new member and worked with key members of SRT to raise a magnificent £10,000 to support our front line workers in Oldham.”

John took over the meeting - held on Zoom - and announced his executive committee: Ste James, vice chair, Stephen Shepherd, treasurer, Andrew Butterworth, secretary and virtually inducted Max Lees, the club’s newest member.

John said:“I am very excited for the year ahead.

"It’s a difficult period to be taking over as one of the highlights in our calendar Band in the Barn had to be cancelled due to Covid-19.

"This was a fantastic event and was growing each year and raised over £5,000 last year for charitable causes. 

“However, we are looking forward for events later in the year, including Oktober Pie Fest which can only grow on the success from 2019, and not forgetting the Santa Dash.

“With the success of moving it to Uppermill park last year, this event is only going to keep growing and it has a real community feel to it. 

“Although we have had to cancel Band in a Barn, members noticed a need for care packages for NHS staff in Oldham. 

“And as lockdown happened we quickly set up a Just Giving page raising funds to purchase some basics for care packages such as toiletries, snacks, energy drinks, phone chargers. 

“We quickly hit our £5,000 target and were able to send thrm into various departments throughout Royal Oldham Hospital.

"We had some amazing donations from local companies, including £11,000 worth of hand cream from WIDDOP and Co and Ultimate Products donated 450 high power chargers.

“With PPE a priority we changed what we were purchasing to masks visors and aprons.

"We found companies able to produce visors and aprons and have them delivered to hospital in a few days.

“The campaign has really been a team effort and I am pleased to be part of this great organisation.

"We have currently raised over £10,000 for NHS frontline staff and will be continuing the campaign as long as it is needed.

“So please, if you can spare £10, £20 or  just  £1, look for our Just Giving page on our Facebook page and donate - @SaddleworthRT"

Saddleworth Round Table is always seeking new members.

If you are aged 18-45 and want to help raise funds for charity while having fun, then speak one of their members or contact them through Facebook - @SaddleworthRT

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.