Mayor Making Ceremony 2011 - Councillor Alan Godson is the new Mayor

Councillor Alan Godson was sworn in as the new Mayor of Rochdale at the Mayor Making Ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall tonight (18 May).

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali handed over the chains to Mayor Godson in the presence of past Mayors, Councillors, Simon Danczuk MP and Jim Dobbin MP.

Mayor Godson was born in Gorton and moved to Middleton in 1956 during the slum clearance.

He attended Langley Secondary Modern School before undertaking a joinery apprenticeship.

His ambition was to be on stage and in 1965 he became a comedian, known as Alan Brady. He worked the pubs and clubs and appeared at venues across the country and eventually the world.

Mayor Godson was married to Valerie for forty years until her untimely death in November 2008. They have two grown up sons; John and James and a granddaughter, Abigail.

In his spare time, Mayor Godson plays golf and is a member of North Manchester Golf Club.

Mayor Godson was first elected to the Council in 2000.

Mayor Godson, supported by the Mayoress Gillian Brown, will be raising funds for Middleton Heartline, Springhill Hospice, the MAD Theatre Company and for a Digital Mammography machine for the Demesne Community Centre in Middleton.

The Mayor also has a challenge on his hands for the coming year. In return for sponsorship money his challenge is to have the words “Who do you think you are, the Mayor of Rochdale?” written into the script for a scene in Coronation Street.

Mayor Godson said he is looking forward to “getting out there” and “meeting people.”

He added: “We want to get out there and do stuff, but you have to invite us. Ask us to come and we will be there like a shot.”