Tameside's 'Millennium Mayor' has been made an Honorary Alderman of the borough in recognition of his distinguished service.

Brian Wild, who retired in 2021 after 27 years as a Dukinfield ward Labour councillor, chaired the former Dukinfield district assembly and served on many council committees including the integrated care and well-being scrutiny panel and the speakers’ panel for liquor licensing. 

His new role, which involves supporting the civic mayor and attending notable events, was confirmed at the last full council meeting.  

Brian, 76, was delighted to become only the tenth former councillor joining the roll of honorary aldermen and women since the title was revived in 2000 - his mayoral year. 

He has many happy memories of events he attended with his late wife and mayoress Jenny - and a unique working partnership with Conservative Cllr John Bell - his choice as Deputy Mayor. 

It was the first - and so far the only time - Tameside’s two main parties have shared mayoral responsibilities. 

“We got on famously, we became very good friends and we still are,” said Brian. 

“John, quite rightly, was made an alderman in 2019 when he retired after many years on the council.”

They took part in many events together during the millennial year including a walk along the newly completed section of the M60 between North Manchester and Ashton with Coronation Street legend Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth.

FLASHBACK: Millennium Mayor Brian Wild, who has been made an Alderman, says it has been a privilege to serve Dukinfield.

Other highlights for Brian included meeting the Duke of Edinburgh, former hostage Terry Waite, Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew and England 1966 World Cup hero Geoff Hurst.

He still cherishes some of the more light-hearted occasions which included trying his hand as a Punch and Judy man at Droylsden Market, exchanging banter with The Chuckle Brothers at Tameside Hippodrome and comedy dance troupe The Roly Polys at Cosmo Bingo, Stalybridge.

Born in Hyde, Brian attended Greenfield Street Boys’ School and spent many years as a welder at Daniel Adamson and Co, Dukinfield, before becoming a self-employed window cleaner. He was elected to Tameside Council in 1994 and has also served as a magistrate, school governor, trustee - and now a patron-ambassador - of Willow Wood Hospice. 

His ‘white knuckle’ experience of a lifetime was abseiling from the Ashton IKEA building in aid of the hospice.

Always a keen sportsman, Brian has been a local football referee, a long-time chair of the Tameside and District League and an umpire in the Derbyshire and Cheshire Cricket League. He still enjoys watching the borough’s non-league football sides and also Oldham Athletic - ‘altogether more than 50 games this year.’  

Brian was married to Jenny, who sadly died in 2007, for more than 30 years and has three children and ten grandchildren.

“It has been a great honour and privilege to represent the people of Dukinfield,” he told the Reporter. 

“When I started, I had some very experienced senior councillors like George Hatton and Charlie Meredith as my role models and I learned a lot from them. 

“In the years since as a ward councillor I’ve been lucky to work alongside such fine colleagues as John Taylor and Jackie Lane.”

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