The Mayor news
Oldham Council has granted its highest civic honour to former Mayor Councillor Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE, making him an Honorary Freeman of the Borough. The title, awarded on 23 December 2025, recognises his years of public service and places him among a small group who hold the borough's most prestigious accolade.
The ceremony comes weeks after the council marked the death of another former mayor, Alan Griffiths, who held the chain of office during 1996-97. Griffiths' passing was announced on 16 January, prompting tributes from councillors who recalled his term in the late nineties.
In a separate moment at the town hall, 15-year-old Brooke Travis Newcombe addressed Dr Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Eddie Moores and Acting Chief Executive Shelley Kipling on 8 January. The teenager shared a personal story that councillors described as 'powerful', though the details of his message have not been released.
With the new Freeman title settled and a former mayor remembered, the council chamber has already turned to the voices of its youngest residents, signalling that civic life in Oldham is balancing honour for the past with space for future stories.
At a Glance
| Honorary Freeman appointed | Councillor Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE, 23 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Council's top honour | Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Oldham |
| Former mayor who died | Alan Griffiths, Mayor 1996-97 |
| Death announced | 16 January 2025 |
| Youth speaker at town hall | Brooke Travis Newcombe, age 15 |
| Meeting date with Brooke | 8 January 2025 |
| Leaders present for youth talk | Dr Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Eddie Moores, Acting Chief Executive Shelley Kipling |
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