Former Bolton mayor says honour from University of Greater Manchester is ‘humbling'
Cllr Morgan, now the borough's deputy mayor, was made Doctor of University (DUniv) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to services to the university and the community.
Former Bolton Mayor Cllr Andy Morgan was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Greater Manchester (Image: Adrian Greenhalgh) After he was presented with his doctorate by Assistant Vice Chancellor Caroline Cowburn, Cllr Morgan told students and their families at the graduation ceremony in Bolton Town Hall's Albert Halls: 'This is a moment I never could have imagined when my journey began.
'This is not just a celebration of my personal journey, but a testament to the boundless possibilities that lie within every single one of us, no matter where we come from.'
Cllr Andy Morgan received the honour on the fourth day of the University of Greater Manchester's graduation celebrations. (Image: Adrian Greenhalgh) Cllr Morgan received the honour on the fourth day of the University of Greater Manchester's graduation celebrations, in front of graduands from the University's Greater Manchester Business School and Greater Manchester School of Law.
READ MORE:
University of Greater Manchester scores high in NSS survey
'No confidence' vote at University of Greater Manchester
HIV charity boss's University of Greater Manchester honour
He added: 'When I became a councillor 24 years ago, it was driven by a simple but powerful belief; that anyone, no matter their postcode, accent or circumstance could make a meaningful difference.
'Serving as mayor of Bolton was a particularly proud moment for me and my family and it reinforced my belief in the strength and potential of our community.
Former mayor of Bolton Cllr Andy Morgan said he was 'deeply honoured' after he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Greater Manchester. (Image: Adrian Greenhalgh) 'I am standing here today, not because I am extraordinary but because I dared to dream, and I worked hard to turn those dreams into reality.'
Cllr Morgan said: 'The University has long been a pillar of education, aspiration and opportunity for our town and region.
"The university's recent rebranding reflects its ambitious vision to connect local heritage with global aspirations.
'By embracing the Greater Manchester identity, the University not only enhances its reputation, but also mirrors the aspirational spirit of Bolton, a town proud of its roots, yet unafraid to aim for greater heights.'
Cllr Morgan began his journey in service by joining the British Army and after graduating from training, he served in the Army Air Corps.
Following military service, Cllr Morgan continued his professional journey with British Aerospace, relocating to Saudi Arabia.
In 1999, he returned to the UK with his family and settled in Bolton, where he purchased and continues to run the family business as managing director.
Cllr Andy Morgan began his journey in service by joining the British Army and after graduating from training, he served in the Army Air Corps. (Image: Adrian Greenhalgh) In 2002 he began his political service as a councillor.
He has held multiple leadership roles on the council, including executive cabinet member for adults services, safeguarding and housing, and chair of the adults and health scrutiny committee.
For four years, he championed the needs of veterans as Bolton's armed forces champion.
He was appointed as a magistrate in 2001 and serves as a trustee of Bolton Hospice, Bolton FM, and Age UK (Bolton), reflecting his belief in supporting people at every stage of life.
In 2002, Cllr Andy Morgan began his political service as a councillor (Image: Adrian Greenhalgh)
Cllr Morgan served as mayor of Bolton from 2024-25 and represented the borough at hundreds of events, raising substantial funds for local causes.
He added: 'If I can do it, so can you.
"Many of you may have come from humble beginnings or faced challenges that sometimes felt insurmountable, as I did. But remember this, your background does not define your future.
'What defines you is your determination, your willingness to persevere and your commitment to making a difference.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Villagers win race to save UK pub, as thousands close
A nearly 200-year-old pub, the Radnor Arms in rural Wales stood abandoned a few years ago. Water ran down the walls, ivy crept around broken windows and rats' skeletons littered the floor. Fast forward to 2025 and laughter rings out of the newly reopened watering hole after locals clubbed together to save it. The pub, which first opened in the 1830s, is one of tens of thousands across the UK forced to call last orders over recent years. Once the heart of the village, the Radnor Arms -- which had become uneconomic due to rising costs -- was shut by the landlord in 2016 and quickly fell into ruin. For locals in the picturesque south Wales village of New Radnor, population 438, the demise of their only remaining hostelry was devastating. Over the years, there were around six or more pubs or ale houses in the village. By 2012, all except the Radnor Arms had shut down. "It was the heart of the village," said David Pyle, a 57-year-old retired psychiatrist who has lived next door to the pub for the past 18 years. "Sometimes you could hear a bit of hubbub, sometimes you'd hear a roar go up when Wales scored, or a male voice choir singing in the back bar," he told AFP. "It was just lovely," he said. "And then it closed." - British tradition - UK pubs, a quintessential cornerstone of community life, are increasingly under threat. Faced with changing drinking habits and spiralling bills, more than a quarter of the 60,800 in existence in 2000 have closed their doors in the past 25 years. Of the 45,000 still operating at the end of last year, 378 -- at least one a day -- are expected to close this year, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The loss of Radnor Arms in 2016 left the village without a focal point, hitting everyone from hobby groups to local hill farmers who would meet there after work for a pint of beer and a chat. "It was the heart of the community. It was a place where anybody could come in," said Sue Norton, one of a team of locals who banded together to save it. "We celebrated births, deaths and marriages here. So for us, it was very emotional when it closed," she said. Vowing to rescue it, Norton and other villagers applied to a government scheme aimed at giving people the financial firepower to take ownership of pubs or shops at risk of being lost. A major fundraising effort last year drummed up £200,000 ($271,000), which was matched by the community ownership fund and boosted by an additional £40,000 government grant. With £440,000 in the kitty, the villagers were able to buy, refurbish and re-open the pub, relying on a rota of volunteers to work behind the bar rather than paid staff. Ukrainian refugee Eugene Marchenko, a 44-year-old lawyer who is one of the volunteers, says the pub helped him meet practically everyone within days of arriving. Marchenko, from the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, is being hosted by a villager along with his wife and teenage son. He said he quickly came to understand the importance of having a place in the village for "drinking and having fun together". "I read in books that the pub was a famous British tradition, but I can feel it myself... It's not just about the drinking alcohol, it's about the sharing and everybody knows each other," he said. - Lifeline axed - The previous Conservative government launched the community ownership fund in 2021. Under the scheme locals have successfully saved around 55 pubs, according to the community ownership charity Plunkett UK. The pubs are run democratically on a one-member, one-vote basis by those who contributed to the fundraiser. But the new Labour government, which took power a year ago, dropped the scheme in December as they sought to meet competing funding demands. Villagers in New Radnor are relieved to have got their application in under the wire but saddened that other communities will not benefit. For now they are planning to make the most of their new community hub. There are plans to host a range of activities -- from mother-and-baby mornings to a dementia group that aims to trigger memories through familiar sights and sounds. Sufferers and their carers could come and have a "drink or a bag of crisps -- or a pickled onion, if people like those," Norton said. har/jkb/js/tc
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Funding secures Iron Age Melsonby Hoard for the nation
A groundbreaking discovery of Iron Age artefacts found by a metal detectorist has been saved for the UK. The Yorkshire Museum has received £192,096 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, along with public donations, to acquire the Melsonby Hoard, which dates back 2,000 years. Discovered in a farmer's field near the North Yorkshire village in 2021, the site gave up more than 800 Iron Age artefacts including chariot wheels, cauldrons and horse bridles. The variety of objects led archaeologists to make important breakthroughs in their understanding of Iron Age society, including how power and wealth were not exclusively held in the South. Detectorist Peter Heads made the find and reported it to the proper authorities, and a team of Durham University archaeologists, with advice from the British Museum, took great care to excavate the hoard from two ditches. Thanks to the National Memorial Fund, a public crowdfunder and other donations, the find has been secured by the Yorkshire Museum, based in York. This will allow more research, conservation and analytical work to be carried out. Kathryn Blacker, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said: 'Thanks to the incredible support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, as well as generous donations from members of the public, the hoard will remain here in Yorkshire, to be made available for everyone to see and to enjoy. 'We remain committed to researching and conserving these unprecedented finds to improve our understanding of our shared past and securing them for future generations.' Simon Thurley, chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said: 'The Melsonby Hoard throws bright new light on Iron Age life in Yorkshire and beyond. 'We are pleased to support this acquisition which will keep the hoard intact, in the county in which it was buried and enable research to take place to gain a deeper insight into its origin and history. 'The memorial fund exists to save the UK's most outstanding heritage and make it publicly accessible, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. 'We are delighted to count the Melsonby Hoard as part of the growing and timeless collection of UK heritage that belongs to all of us forever.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
72 Students Experiencing Homelessness Graduate from Summer Academy
FREDERICK, Md., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, July 24, 72 students experiencing homelessness were recognized for completion of the New Horizons Academy at Governor Thomas Johnson High School (GTJHS). The program is run by the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County in partnership with Frederick County Public Schools. "I am so proud of these students and their dedication to reaching graduation. Every year I am inspired by the number of teenagers living in such difficult circumstances who choose to spend their summer in school with us. Every young person who completed this year's summer program is walking away one credit closer to completing high school, a few life skills closer to achieving financial independence, and $4,000 closer to a college education. To see a 100% successful completion rate for more than 70 students is a true testament to the value of this partnership between SHIP and Frederick County Public Schools." – Melissa Muntz, Executive Director, SHIP of Frederick County. The New Horizons Academy is a five-week program that provides an opportunity for youth experiencing housing instability to receive academic and life skills instruction. Students receive credit for courses required to graduate and are awarded a $600 stipend for completing the program, eliminating the need to choose between working and attending summer school. All students graduating from the program also receive a $4,000 scholarship to Hood College. This scholarship is granted to them each year they attend the New Horizons Summer Academy. The program is open to all students experiencing homelessness attending Frederick County Public High School in the fall of 2025. According to the US Department of Education, there are over 1.5 million public school students nationwide who experience homelessness each year. As of July 2025, there were over 1,000 youth experiencing homelessness enrolled in Frederick County Public Schools. SHIP works to improve the lives of Frederick County's most vulnerable youth who are experiencing homelessness, helping them to achieve stability before entering adulthood. Those who do not graduate from high school are 3.5 times more likely to experience homelessness as adults. Providing students with the tools and resources needed to reach high school graduation is key to ending adult homelessness in the Frederick community. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SHIP of Frederick County
