Oldham ‘Mayor of Peace’ in emotional swearing-in

HAND-OVER . . . Derek Heffernan invested as Mayor by the retiring Mayor

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THE NEW Mayor of Oldham Derek Heffernan was warmly welcomed by the whole council chamber yesterday as he was officially sworn in.

Councillor Heffernan, councillor in Saddleworth North for almost 30 years, has – alongside his wife Di – a long history of fundraising, dating back some 66 years.

So, naturally, they are both expected to thrive as Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham – with supporting good causes being a key part of the role.

As he was officially sworn in at a ceremony in Oldham Council’s chamber yesterday, the self-proclaimed ‘Mayor of Peace’ had tears in his eyes as retiring Mayor of Oldham Ateeque Ur-Rehman handed him the famous chain.

Councillor Heffernan said: “This is a very emotional moment. Obviously the Mayor of Oldham Appeal will be a big part of our agenda. We could not miss this opportunity.

“Oldham: we love the place and we love the people. The people are known as the most generous in Greater Manchester for giving to charity and that is a fact which endears them to both of us.

“We will visit as many places and people as possible and spread the word of the best of our borough of Oldham and obviously Saddleworth.”

Born in Millam, Cumberland in 1939, Councillor Heffernan came to Oldham in 1974 and ever since has been involved in the community.

In 1987 he was elected as a Saddleworth Parish councillor for the first of eight times.

Nominating Councillor Heffernan as Mayor of Oldham was his Liberal Democrat colleague, Councillor John McCann.

He said: “Derek and Di have given so many years of service to so many bodies. It’s a long list and the power behind the beard is Di. I know that the number of hours that Derek has spent serving the community – along with his predecessors – must run into months, if not years. So I trust that you will have an interesting, stimulating and successful year, Derek.”

Seconding the nomination of Councillor Heffernan, Councillor Riaz Ahmed said: “I have known Derek for over 25 years.

“Derek has made a tremendous contribution to this council and has always conducted himself with integrity and dignity.

“Di is also no stranger to this council, as she has always stepped forward to help with the success of the Mayor’s charity appeals. They have both been an asset to this council and to this borough and I’m sure they will do a fine job as the first citizens of Oldham. I hope they have a wonderful year.”

Councillor John Hudson said: “He needs no introduction. Together with his wife, Di, I don’t think there’ll be any disagreement in this chamber when I say he’s probably one of the hardest workers for the Mayor’s Committee that I remember in the last 20-odd years. He has always turned up and he has always supported the mayor. So I’m pleased for many reasons. I’m very pleased to be here to say to Derek that he fully deserves his chance to be mayor and he has worked very hard in the past and I think that people recognise this.

“I have done 40 years in Saddleworth and Derek is the next one down so I have known him a long time and he has always been really keen to do his bit, supported by his wife and family.

“I think we are very lucky that we have got somebody that knows about fundraising, he knows about the people in the borough and I think he’ll reach out to them and they’ll reach back to him.

“Derek doesn’t stand on ceremony, he gets to work. He’s a real person.”