Tributes to Ray, a man who truly loved Oldham

POPULAR . . . Ray Whitehead

A FORMER Conservative councillor who helped transform Oldham Coliseum into a thriving theatre has died at the age of 84.

Ray Whitehead set up the firm Whitehead Packaging in the 1960s and was an Oldham councillor from 1976 to 1980, serving on numerous committees.

He was the first chairman of Oldham Coliseum when it re-opened in 1978 after almost going bankrupt, with the new board given 18 months to turn it around or face closure.

Mr Whitehead previously served in the Navy from 1943 to ’46 and was part of a beach signals unit during the Normandy landings.

He was awarded an OBE in 1995 for his political and public service — but was devastated when it was stolen during a burglary at his home in Windsor Road, Werneth, last year.

His Second World War campaign medals were also taken along with his father’s First World War medals.

The OBE was later replaced while a man who read the story in the paper donated his own medals to Mr Whitehead.

The grandfather-of-three, who had prostate cancer, died at home yesterday.

He leaves sons Nicholas and Anthony. His wife Myrtle died in 1986 and he lost son, Patrick, in 2004.

Nicholas said: “He achieved pretty much everything he wanted to do in life — having a family, owning a Rolls Royce and serving Oldham.

“He never left Oldham. He could easily have moved to Cheshire or France or anywhere, but he did not.

“He stayed in Oldham because he loved it.

“His very last wish when he was in hospital was that he wanted to die at home.

“That’s what he did. He died peacefully at home with his family around.”

Paying tribute to his work as chairman of the board at Oldham Coliseum, Nicholas added: “It was at a time when it was teetering on the brink.

“I think it is largely thanks to them that the theatre survived.”

Mr Whitehead was a long-standing president of Oldham West and Royton Conservative Association, retiring from the post this year.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Oldham Tory group leader, said: “The whole of Oldham Conservative Association is deeply saddened by the passing of Ray.

“He was an absolute stalwart as far as we are concerned.

“In my view, he was almost irreplaceable.

“He worked for many years both as a councillor and behind the scenes.

“He always had the best interests of the good people of Oldham at heart.

“Our sympathies go out to his family and many of his close friends at this sad time.”

Veteran director Kenneth Alan Taylor was artistic boss of Oldham Coliseum when it re-opened.

He added: “Ray was very supportive and a very nice, kind man.

“We had a good relationship, but we clashed healthily!”