Page 21 - Real Rochdale Issue 16 Winter 2022

Civic honours bestowed

on 12 for outstanding

contributions

Twelve local people who have made A former Rochdale Woman of the Year, in 2007
outstanding contributions to the borough have she received the Greater Manchester Trust and Littleborough Coach House. In 2018 Healey Surgery until his recent retirement.
been bestowed civic honours by Rochdale Community Star award for her contributions to he was named Man of the Year by Springhill Musharraf was also the clinical director of
Borough Council. the community and voluntary sector across the Hospice. Rochdale Primary Care Trust and continues to
borough. be a proactive community ambassador,
Six community champions and charity workers, a He described the honour as “a wonderful supporting several local community enterprises
local businessman and a former medical Described by Councillor Ashley Dearnley as “a surprise.” involved in healthcare and mental wellbeing.
director have been given the freedom of the bright star in the borough,” Sheila said: “I am so
borough, while four former councillors were proud and happy to receive this accolade.” Razia Shamim was also awarded the freedom Ghulam Rasul Shahzad was also made a freeman
made aldermen. Rochdale-born England and of the borough. She is the first Asian woman in of the borough. A recipient of an OBE from the
Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh is also to be John Kay, consultant at Molesworth, Bright, Rochdale to be awarded the freedom of the late Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the
awarded freedom of the borough at a later date. Clegg Solicitors and former president of borough, and was the first Asian woman in community, the retired magistrate is a member
Rochdale Rotary Club, also received the Rochdale to be awarded an MBE. of several local voluntary groups.
Sheila Acton was awarded freedom of the freedom of the borough.
borough in recognition of her remarkable She received the MBE in 1998 for services to Saeed Dar was made a freeman of the borough
contribution to community and voluntary Involved with several charities, he was a housing and community relations and is chair of in recognition of his significant contribution to
activities for over 50 years. She has been director of Rochdale Enterprise Agency, chair- the Pakeeza Women’s Group, as well as a education and the community.
volunteering locally, supplying countless hours man of the NSPCC Rochdale business group, member of other local voluntary organisations
of her time, beginning with the Girl Guides director of Rochdale Deaf Society, the Children’s aimed at reducing isolation among women, Javed Akhtar and Ali Asghar were also made
movement in 1970. Rights and Advocacy Service and Rochdale promoting cohesion, health and wellbeing. freemen of the borough in recognition of their
Connections Trust. significant and continued contribution to the
Sheila is chair of Syke Community Base which Razia has helped raise thousands of pounds community, and their voluntary activities.
opened in 2002, vice-chair of the Voluntary A member of Greater Manchester Chamber and for various organisations, both in the UK and
Sector Partnership, a member of Friends of deputy chair of the local strategic partnership, abroad. Former councillors Tom Bailey, Mohammed
Rochdale Town Hall, Rochdale Rotary and a John has had many other roles over the past 40 Sharif and former mayors Keith Swift and Ian
recipient of the prestigious Paul Harris years, including supporting Littleborough Civic Dr Musharraf Hussain, was made a freeman of Duckworth were made honorary aldermen.
fellowship award. the borough. He served Rochdale for over 40

years as a hospital doctor and then as GP at
Photos, clockwise from top left:
• Sheila Acton being presented with her award
by mayor councillor Ali Ahmed.
• Dr Musharraf Hussain being presented with
his award.
• John Kay being presented with his award.
• Ghulam Rasul Shahzad being presented with
his award by mayor councillor Ali Ahmed,
alongside council leader Neil Emmott (left)
and consort Sultan Ali (right).
• Razia Shamim was presented with her award
by mayor councillor Ali Ahmed, alongside
council leader Neil Emmott (left), councillor
Janet Emsley and consort Sultan Ali (right).
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