A former secondary school assistant headteacher is stepping up to serve as Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s new chairperson.

John Hodgson has supported the charity for nearly two decades and his associated with Rosemere stretches back to when he lost his first wife Catherine to breast cancer in 2006.

He said: “As with many Rosemere Cancer Foundation supporters, I felt I wanted to give something back for the wonderful treatment Catherine had received at Rosemere Cancer Centre.

“I vowed to organise an event to raise funds for the tremendous work that goes on at the centre. I organised a couple of music concerts at my local church, St Joseph’s RC Church, Withnell, and as I enjoy cooking, I famously held two restaurant evenings at my house. I cooked a three course meal for about 20 guests, each of them paying a restaurant price, which I then donated to Rosemere Cancer Foundation.”

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71-year-old John taught chemistry up to A-level for 36 years at Bolton’s Thornleigh Salesian College.

He was also a governor of Withnell’s St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School and served for more than 20 years as vice chair and chair of its finance committee.

John has also served as a volunteer representative on Rosemere’s management committee which decides on the projects the charity is to fund.

He also lent his passion for photography to Rosemere as he became the Foundation’s ‘official’ photographer taking pictures for the newsletter, social media, local media and website.

John, who is step-dad to Joanne, Yvonne and Sarah and a grandfather of four, said: “I feel so honoured to be invited to become chairman of Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

“It has been an absolute privilege seeing first-hand the way the charity and its supporters have worked and sacrificed to raise the funds to support the clinical teams at Rosemere Cancer Centre and other local cancer units to help them provide the best treatment and care possible to patients.”

John added: “As a volunteer myself for so many years, my connection with other volunteers and supporters is especially strong. Many have become good friends and both Kath, who is also a supporter and often attends events with me, and I are looking forward to making lots more new friends as I grow into my new role.”

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Rosemere is appointing a new chairman following the death of Peter Mileham OBE who died in June this year.

Dan Hill, head of charities for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Rosemere Cancer Centre, said: “The whole team at Rosemere Cancer Foundation couldn’t be more delighted that John has accepted the invitation to become the charity’s new chairman.

“John is a true friend of Rosemere Cancer Foundation. He has worked tirelessly over the years to raise funds and support the team and its volunteers in so many ways and always in good humour. He is reliable and dependable, a real trooper, who has turned out and turned up whatever the weather and at
the 11 th hour. John instils confidence. It is a real asset to have him at the helm.”

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