Anne Cheetham is the new mayor of Rossendale
Conservative councillor represents the English twin town for a year
The council of the English twin town of Rossendale has now elected Councillor Anne Cheetham as mayor. For one year, Cheetham will perform the task together with her deputy Dorothy Jones. The former judge gained experience in municipal work not only as a Rossendale councillor, but also as chairwoman of Lancashire County Council. Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff congratulated his new colleague and her deputy on their election.
Anne Cheetham serves on Rossendale Council's "Appointments and Appeals" and "Haslingden Parish Partnership with Edenfield" committees, represents Rossendale on outside bodies and on the board of the East Lancashire Railway Trust.
Fascinating anecdotes from life
Anne Cheetham brings a wide range of experience to her new post as Rossendale Mayor. Among other things, she has served tea at Strangeways Prison and met the world's first female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. Cheetham served as a judge for 29 years, handling thousands of cases, including the high-profile Sophie Lancaster murder case.
Advocating for foster children
Anne Cheetham has two adult children and one granddaughter. Along with her husband, Jeffrey, who died of cancer in 2007, she has placed 24 children in foster care. As a city councilwoman, she raises awareness about foster care and adoption. She said, "When we took children into foster care, Jeffrey and I saw that they had been through difficult times before they came to us. We knew we could help them and support them."
Volunteerism awards
New Mayor Anne Cheetham was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II and an OBE (next rank as an officer in the same order) by Prince Charles for her work in care. In 2014, she joined an all-female team from the Soroptimists of Ramsbottom on the BBC television show Eggheads and won £9,000, which was donated to charities including local charities and a new school in Sierra Leone.
Raising for cancer research important cause
Anne Cheetham volunteered for the Women's Voluntary Service (now the Royal Voluntary Service) at local hospitals and with Meals on Wheels. She also worked as an organizer for the Cancer Research Campaign, which directly raised money for the Paterson Institute (part of the Christie Hospital in Manchester). The charity helped raise £25 million over two years for a new youth cancer ward in Manchester. This issue remains a major concern for her.