A DEDICATED councillor is celebrating her 80th year in style with the community – by taking on the role of Saddleworth Parish Council chairman.
Cllr Enid Firth, who will celebrate her milestone birthday in August, has been a parish councillor for three years and decided to take the leap into the lead position before she missed the chance.
It will be her first time as chairman but she is not unfamiliar with the role as she was chairman’s consort when her partner Cllr Bill Cullen served as chair in 2011-12.
Enid, who is a great-grandmother, said: “If I do not do it this year, then it will be too late. I am not as active as I was when Bill did it and this will be my last chance.”
She officially became chairman at the Parish Council AGM last month – after serving as vice chair for 12 months – when she was voted in and handed the chains of office by outgoing chairman Cllr Graham Sheldon.
After reading and signing the Declaration of Office, she told the meeting: “I would like to thank the councillors for doing the honour of electing me and I shall do my best.
“Graham and Diane have done a wonderful job and what they have raised with the Charity Committee is remarkable.”
Enid, who lives in Springhead, named the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Oldham Mountain Rescue and the Multiple Sclerosis Society – a condition two of her daughters suffer from – as her main chosen charities.
She added: “Let’s come together as a Parish Council and let’s leave politics outside the door for our meetings so we can work together for the benefit of the people of Saddleworth.”
Cllr Neil Allsopp, who was absent from the meeting, was voted in as vice chairman of the council and Cllr Bill Cullen, the chairman’s consort, was invested with his chain of office.
Medallions were presented to outgoing chairman Cllr Graham Sheldon and his lady Diane for their hard work over the last 12 months.
Cllr Sheldon said: “It has not been easy and we would like to thank everybody for their support. I believe Enid and Bill will make a great team and do a great job.”
The official Churching of the chairman saw Boarshurst Band lead a civic procession of councillors and chairman from Saddleworth and nearby Parishes from Springhead Community Centre to Enid’s chosen church – St John the Baptist Hey.
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