Page 7 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019

John Kay – Man of Rochdale

Current ‘Man of Rochdale’, John Kay, was (LEAF), to promote local places and ‘always has
born and bred in the borough, and has lived in the best interests of the village at heart’.
Littleborough all his life.
John has served on the Mayor’s Charity
His father, Frederick William Kay, was a senior Committee for over ten years and has been
partner at Molesworths solicitors with John as asked to chair the committee this year for a
his articled clerk – yesterday’s version of second time by the new Mayor of Rochdale,
an apprentice. Councillor Billy Sheerin.

One year into his training at the then He is also an active fund-raising member for
Littleborough business, John took over the the Rochdale branch of the NSPCC, organising
running of Molesworths at just 18 years old, events such as the Ladies Ascot Day at Nutters
when his father died.
Restaurant, and was chairman of the NSPCC
Between 1985 and 2006, he continued his Rochdale & Oldham Business Group.
father’s legacy as a senior partner at thecurrent
Molesworths Bright Clegg in Rochdale town John was one of the founders of Rochdale
centre before stepping aside to become a Connections Trust (RCT) 20 years ago, which he,
commercial consultant; still providing local along with magistrates, started when they found
businesses and individuals with legal support. there were young people in Rochdale who didn’t
have a school to attend as they had dropped off
John has raised thousands of pounds for various the registers.
causes over the years and had an incredible input
to a variety of organisations and groups within RCT trained volunteers to mentor young,
the borough. Believing in Rotary’s motto of disaffected individuals and matched them with
‘Service Above Self’, John says the Rotary Club of youngsters; magistrates played their part by
Rochdale was his starting point with charity work ordering many young people in court to attend
30 years ago. the trust.

In 2012, John was presented with Rotary’s John said: “I had a particular wish that we should
highest award, the ‘Paul Harris Fellowship’, at a help the families, as opposed to just helping the
surprise ceremony, for his outstanding service to children who get into trouble. I was involved with
the club and community. the local NSPCC through my wife, Elisabeth, and
I put forward a motion at the national conference
Recently, John has been running a pop-up art of the NSPCC that they should spend more
exhibition with local artist Geoff Butterworth in time helping families and not just individuals. It
the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, where received a great amount of support and now the
Geoff gives 20% of his earnings to Rotary’s NSPCC is helping families, along with RCT.”
chosen charities.
John was named as the 25th Man of Rochdale at
A prominent member of the Littleborough Rochdale Town Hall. On receiving the accolade,
community, John is the treasurer of John said: “It is so rewarding to know that people
voted for me. I hope I can live up to what people
Littleborough Civic Trust and is involved with expect of me. I am delighted to be able to put
Littleborough Canalside Development Group, back into Rochdale what Rochdale gives to me. I
Littleborough Coach House Trust and like to put back into society what I have got out
of it. I am so glad and appreciative that this year
Littleborough Events and Association Forum was my time.”

Photo: Katie Davies
REAL ROCHDALE - Summer 2019 6