Former councillor of 50 years dies

Tributes have poured in for a man who was ‘one of the nicest people you could have met’ and served Oldham for 50 years.

On September 28, Oldham’s Labour Party announced that former councillor Peter Dean has died, describing him as ‘a mentor and friend to us all’. Mr Dean was first elected as a councillor for Saddleworth West in 1976.

He was later elected in Werneth, Coldhurst, Failsworth East, and Waterhead and served as the borough’s mayor between 1997 and 1998. He remained a councillor until he stood down ahead of the 2026 local elections.

Coun Arooj Shah, who leads the Oldham Labour’s 18 councillors, said: “We are really sad to share the news that our dear colleague and friend former Cllr Peter Deal has sadly passed.

“He will be missed greatly by all of us, having served communities across Oldham for over 50 years. Our thoughts are with his wife Sue and his family at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”

Oldham MP Jim McMahon also paid tribute, adding: “He always rallied for community power and involvement in everything he did.

“From being a former firefighter, to working for the late Michael Meacher too, his life was centred on public service. He was also one of the nicest people you could have met.”

Longstanding Councillor Zahid Chauhan said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news, adding: “I was proud to call Peter a friend, and I will always be grateful for his guidance, support and wisdom over the years.

“He will be remembered for his warmth, decency, commitment and many years of service to local people.”

Coun Josh Charters said: “You were a mentor to me since I joined the council, with a wonderful bank of knowledge about what had happened in any part of the borough in your 50 years as a councillor. You always had good advice, because you knew this town better than anyone. “

Tributes have also come in from across the political spectrum. Naveed Chowhan, who represents Waterhead for the Oldham Group, said Mr Dean ‘served our borough with great dedication’, adding: “His experience, knowledge and commitment to public service earned him the respect of many people across the borough.“It was a privilege to serve alongside him as a fellow ward councillor. Whatever our individual views, Peter always brought with him a wealth of experience and a genuine commitment to the community he represented.”

He said: “Oldham has lost a long serving public servant, and he will be greatly missed.”

On Oldham Reform’s Facebook page, the party paid tribute to the former councillor, saying he had left ‘a lasting mark on local government’.

The post said: “While we sat on different sides of the political spectrum, his commitment to public service, his constituents and the town he cared deeply about commanded respect.

“His long record of service, including as Mayor of Oldham and as a cabinet member, reflected a lifetime devoted to improving the lives of local residents. Our thoughts are with Peter’s family, friends and former colleagues at this sad time. May he rest in peace.”