Plaque to be installed at Mutual Mills in memory of Harry Openshaw

Valery Openshaw with the plaque in memory of her late husband, Harry

Heywood Rotary Club will be installing a blue plaque at Mutual Mills in memory of former member Harry Openshaw.

Harry worked as both an employee and then a director of cotton manufacturers Mutual Mills between 1965 and 1996, one of the largest employers in Heywood, employing at its peak more than 1,200 people.

Mr Openshaw was the longest serving member of Heywood Rotary Club, having been a member for 40 years between 1977 and 2017, and an active member involved in many charitable and community activities.

A fully qualified accountant, Mr Openshaw was able to audit the financial books of the Heywood Rotary Club and also represented the club at Rotary International events.

With the agreement of Heywood Rotary Club, club president Mike Goldrick, Harry’s widow, Valery, and the management of Mutual Mills, it was agreed that Heywood Rotary would install a plaque on the Mill in Harry’s memory.

Rotary member George Kinder said: “I was able to take the plaque to show Valery and she is so pleased that we have decided to honour him.”

During his time as a Rotarian, Mr Openshaw had been the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Recognition.

Named after Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, a Rotary Club can request the Paul Harris Fellow recognition to recognise either a Rotarian or non-Rotarian who, in its opinion, is worthy of this award. Clubs have traditionally reserved this honour to mark their appreciation for service to Rotary.