Alderman honour for former mayors
JON MACPHERSON
TWO former Mayors and long-serving councillors have spoken of their ‘honour’ at being nominated for a prestigious award.
Marlene Haworth and Janet Storey have been selected by Hyndburn council for the title of Honorary Alderman in recognition of their ‘eminent service to the borough’.
Conservative Mrs Haworth served Oswaldtwistle as St Oswald’s ward councillor for 12 years between 2004 and 2016 and was Mayor in 2015/16 - her final year.
The 73-year-old, of Cranbrook Avenue, told the Observer: “Our group leader phoned me and told me that I had been nominated.
“I was surprised and very happy. I never really thought it would happen. It’s a big honour. I was quite overwhelmed by it.
“After I finished as councillor and after my Mayoral year that was it for me, I never expected anything like this but it’s really nice.
“It’s good to know that all your hard work has been recognised. I was quite passionate about the job and I enjoyed the job for the whole 12 years that I did it. I also needed a rest at the end.”
Mrs Storey, who has lived in Clayton-le-Moors for 27 years, represented the area between 1998 and 2002 and again between 2003 and 2011, also as a Conservative.
She was Mayor in 2005/06, the year Accrington Stanley was promoted back to the football league.
The mother-of-five and grandmother-of-four said: “I’m delighted. It’s an honour and it’s nice to be recognised for things that you’ve done. I’ve only known about it for a week or so. It was a very pleasant surprise.
“You have to qualify for it by either being Mayor or doing 12 years on the council and both myself and Marlene have qualified for it twice.
“I have some great memories. Everything stands out on the council when you’re helping people. Every time you get elected you are grateful for the people who have voted for you.
“I think it’s something for the community as well. Clayton is a proper community in its own right so it’s nice to be recognised for what you’ve done in a community and not just Hyndburn. I was the Mayor when Accrington Stanley got promoted so I did manage to get on Sky Sports twice, which was special.”
The Alderman awards are set to be presented at a Hyndburn council meeting in September.