Wednesday 24 November 2010

Four memorials for former council leader


Town hall bosses have announced plans for four memorials to the late council leader Roy Oldham.

The 76-year-old, who died earlier this year, led Tameside council for more than 30 years making him Britain's longest-serving council leader.

A councillor for Mottram, he was made a CBE in 1999 for his services to local government.

His contribution will be remembered in four memorials around the borough inspired by his passion for politics, local history and sport.

Coun Kieran Quinn, who took over as leader shortly before Coun Oldham's death in July, said: “Following lengthy debates with Roy's family and his colleagues we have now agreed four lasting tributes.

“We will create a living, interactive local democracy and local history area within Portland Basin museum recognising his contributions to local democracy. This display will let local people come to see how others lived and how the place has changed, both politically and socially, over the years.”

The second tribute will be to rename the local studies archive the Roy Oldham Local Studies and Archive Centre. Coun Quin added:

“Roy was passionate about this facility and how they use the expertise and resources to support, develop and document the stories and information that people send us so that it is recorded for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

“Our third tribute will be to rename the Richmond Street sports complex the Roy Oldham Sports Village. The sporting facilities of the borough always interested Roy.

“The final tribute involves a bronze statue. The last in the series of street art and statues that we have seen installed across all our towns in recent years will be unveiled. It was the last piece to be commissioned by Roy before his death and depicts local international World Cup winning footballers. When located at the Richmond Street sports complex it will be a fitting tribute to his support and contributions to local sports.

“These lasting memorials to his endeavours are fitting, not only because politics, sport and local history were his passions but also because they will be used and enjoyed by the people of Tameside and especially the children which we know were close to his heart.” Manchester Evenung News

4 comments:

tonydj said...

Is the juxtaposition of this article with the article on job cuts deliberate TC? how much will this cost?

Why not go the whole hog? Swap names with Oldham MBC so Tameside becomes Oldham.

I loved the part about "Love of Democracy" LOL. During a visit to Kenya was that?

Still it could have been worse, at least they haven't done a Lenin on him and preserved the body under perspex and had it displayed in the Sentantii museum!

Cost Cutting Conservative said...

Why can't they rename the borough after him?

What about Colin Grantham? said...

Isn't there a bridge in Stalybridge named after him? Isn't that enough?

Anonymous said...

Because R.Oldham (according to replies I gained from TMBC)had only borrowed from TMBC all the new expensive security system on his Mottram Home a few years ago,is it now being removed back to TMBC who exist courtesy of our Council Taxes.