Tradesman’s half-century at site
A FORMER tradesman has shared his memories of working on Rochdale Town Hall over 50 years ago as renovations on the historic building continue.
Chris Rickson, 70, completed a five-year apprenticeship under Rochdale Borough Council and began working as a painter and decorator in 1967 for council properties such as Rochdale Town Hall and schools.
He and a colleague, Keith Howarth, were tasked with painting the clock face in 1968 and he recalled the six foot copper minute hand being stolen.
The father of two from Littleborough said: “I have always loved climbing so I was okay with the height!
“I have always enjoyed working at the town hall. It’s such a historic and fascinating building and I have enjoyed my time working in it.
“You feel you have achieved something special working in the town hall.
“It gives you job satisfaction and pride after you’ve contributed to what people did in the 1800s and followed in the footsteps of very good tradesmen.
“I think we should preserve history as much as we can.”
The former Littleborough High School pupil progressed from painting and decorating to building and surveying all council owned buildings, and finished working for the council in 2012.
Chris and Keith painted the shields that had never seen a lick of paint before and coated the lions on the balcony with paint.
They crafted a unicorn’s horn from an old wooden broom handle for the unicorn figure.
The retired tradesman remembers that there were varying gaps in the boards which were twisted causing a trip hazard.
He says that safety while on site is considerably better than it was.
In 1978 he restored the pattern on the wall in the Great Hall to its former glory by hand painting it with
● Chris Rickson worked on the Town Hall over 50 years ago ten people painting at a time for up to six months, and he redid the colour scheme for the great vent on the roof.
Chris was invited by one of the architects to come down to the town hall to share his opinions on the colour schemes of the hall and how the restoration should be approached.
Rochdale Town Hall is currently closed for business while renovations take place.
● Chris (right) with Keith Howarth on the Town Hall clock face in 1968
● Chris (right) with Garry Watts during works in 2010
● Matching in the wall pattern before ageing in 2010