New ceremonial mayor of Rochdale sworn in

Thursday, 15 May 2025 16:44

By George Lythgoe

New ceremonial mayor of Rochdale Janet Emsley and her consort Ken Emsley

The new mayor of Rochdale took on the civic chains in an official ceremony last night.

Coun Janet Emsley took over as ceremonial mayor from her predecessor Coun Shakil Ahmed and will preside over full council meetings for the next year. In a grand ceremony at Rochdale Town Hall’s Great Hall, the new mayor gave an emotional speech, as her fellow councillors, friends and family watched on.

Delivering her speech to an audience of over 300, Coun Emsley said: “I am honoured and so proud to be with you at our fabulous town hall – built as a symbol of civic pride, which is what Ken and I want to share during the year ahead.

“I’m very proud to become the eleventh female mayor of my hometown, during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.

“Thank you to my husband Ken and to all my family for their support, along with my colleagues on the council. We are looking forward to promoting the borough at every opportunity, meeting as many people as we can.”

Coun Emsley has been a councillor for Littleborough Lakeside since 2014. She was born in Littleborough but brought up in Hull and Rochdale.

She went on to become a teacher, startying her career at Balderstone Community School. She also taught at Oulder Hill, Redbrook and Buckley Hall Detention Centre before beginning work at Wardle High School in 1989 – where she stayed until her retirement in 2015.

New deputy mayor Faisal Rana (middle), deputy mayoress Coun Iram Faisal (left) and consort Basharat Umer

Coun Tricia Ayrton, speaking in support of Coun Emsley’s mayoral appointment, said: “Janet is such a much loved and popular councillor which is so clear to see when out and about in Littleborough, and I know she along with her husband Ken as consort will be an excellent mayor.”

Coun Ashley Dearnley praised the new mayor’s unique style and straight talking approach to getting things done, complimenting her as ‘considerate, caring, hard-working and diligent’. He went on to says that Coun Emsley’s late father would be ‘so proud of what she has achieved’.

The new deputy mayor, who will inevitably become the next mayor, is Coun Faisal Rana. His deputy mayoress will be Coun Iram Faisal and their consort will be Basharat Umer.

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