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Page 8 June 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 All we ask is that you have: A caring attitude Your own car Some spare time We’re a children’s transport charity in Greater Manchester looking for volunteer drivers. The role is driving accompanied children with no other means of transport to healthcare appointments in your own car (we provide child car seats), waiting for the family and then returning them home. It’s really worthwhile and so appreciated by the children, their families and the NHS. The role is flexible so can work around other commitments, you decide which days you volunteer. We reimburse you monthly for your fuel costs and it doesn’t a!ect your car insurance. For more information or to apply: E-mail: to@transportforsickchildren.org Web: www.transportforsickchildren.org 0161 443 4122 VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED Transport for Sick Children is a children’s transport charity and we’re looking for new volunteer drivers in Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and North Manchester to take children to hospital and clinic appointments. The role is driving accompanied children with no other means of transpo t to healthcare ap ointments i your own car (we pr vide child car seats), w iting for th famil and then returning them home. It’s re lly worthwhile and so appr ciated by the children, their families and the NHS. The role is flexible so works around other commitments. You decide which days you volunteer, we reimburse you monthly for your fuel costs and it doesn’t affect your car insurance. VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED Humbled: Westhoughton’s newmayor Sarita Chohan (Photo credit: WTC) BLACKROD’S new mayor Richard Har- rison took over the chain and duties from outgoing first citizen Kathryn Grant. The new mayor has served on Blackrod Town Council since 2024 and has contributed to sev- eral key initiatives. including the youth council and the Festival of Blackrod committee. As well has handing over the chains of office, Kathryn presented cheques to the charities she supported during her year. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) received £3,000. Kath- ryn said: “This is a small but important charity that looks after patients and their families who suffer with a rare form of eye cancer, called a retinoblastoma. “I have been delighted to have a true hero by my side fundraising in the form of five-year-old AJ who was diagnosed with eye cancer just before his first birthday. He’s such BOLTON has officially welcomed its new mayor, Mohammed Iqbal, following his inauguration as the borough’s first citizen. Having moved to Bol- ton as a child, he has built his life and career in the borough and is exceptionally proud to represent it during his mayoral year. Councillor Iqbal was born in the village of Ghora Khajulah, Kash- mir, and came to live in Bolton at the age of 12. He began working in the transport sector in 1977 on the buses before later moving into his own haulage business and building a long career within the trans- port industry. A grandfather, he was elected to Bolton Coun- cil 18 years ago and has proudly served his com- munity ever since. He said: “I feel deeply honoured to have been chosen to represent the people of Bolton. It is the greatest honour of my life. “Bolton is a town full of diversity, strength, and opportunity, and I look forward to meeting people from all walks of life and representing our town with pride through- out the coming year.” He will be supported by his wife, Sayda, who will serve as mayoress, and will use his term to champion Bolton and support local communi- ties and charities across the borough. The local charities he will be supporting dur- ing his year in office are Bolton Hospice; Emmaus Bolton, supporting peo- ple experiencing home- lessness; Endeavour, which supports women within the community and Raise the Youth, helping and inspiring young people across the borough. He takes over the mayoral role from Cllr David Chadwick who now becomes dep- uty mayor. FIRST CITIZENS SPECIAL ‘It’s the greatest honour of my life’ Proud role: Mohammed Iqbal (Photo credit: Bolton Council) Charities benefit from Kathryn’s year Presentation: Kathryn Grant hands over a cheque to CHECT while new mayor Richard Harrison looks on a special lad and a shin- ing example of resilience and bravery.” Bolt on Ho spi c e received a donation of £1,750 and Bolton Wan- derers in the Community was handed a cheque for £1,500. Kathryn said: “At the end of my mayoral year I would like to say a huge thank you to the residents of Blackrod, surrounding areas and beyond. You have made my mayoral year truly special and I will always treasure the opportunity and privilege that I have had when given the role. “It has been my pleas- ure to work closely with the youth council, help to bring about the first Festival of Blackrod, and help raise the profile of our town council and what we can do to help our communities. “It is my absolute pleasure to hand over the chains to our newMayor, Councillor Richard Har- rison. He will absolutely do our village proud and I look forward to hearing of his antics in the com- ing year.” A commitment to community and care ‘ COMMUN I T Y, Care and Commit- ment’ will be at the heart of new West- houghton mayor Sarita Chohan’s year in office. She made that pledge after receiving the chains of office at the annual meeting of the town council. The new mayor said: “I was humbled by this experience and there were emotional moments too.” She paid tribute to outgoingmayor Gillian Wroe saying: “She has done an amazing job in the role and worked tirelessly to fulfil her duties. Having had the privilege of serving as deputy mayor along- side her, I have learnt so much.” Councillor Chohan’s husband Rishi will be her consent during her year as the town’s first citizen. Cllr Linda Maher is the new deputy mayor of Westhoughton and her consort will be Neil Maher, a former mayor. The new mayor’s cho- sen charities are The Darren Deady Founda- tion and Westhoughton Assist Service. To start her year a mayoral service took place at St Bartholomew’s Church and included a short Hindu prayer by the mayor’s father-in-law Ratilal Chohan. Following the service, Lostock Cricket Club was the venue for a civic celebration.