PROFILE

Surgery details

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Contact information

Home address:  
67 Thomas Street 
Hindley Green
Wigan
WN2 4SS

Bus. phone:  01942 736259

Bus. email:  R.Brierley@wigan.gov.uk

 

 

Committee appointments

• Confident Places Scrutiny Committee

• Council

 

Terms of Office

• 01/05/2008 - 03/05/2012

• 03/05/2012 - 05/05/2016

 

I was born in Platt Bridge, where I lived in Sidney Street  with my mother, sister grandad and grandma. My father died when my mother was three months pregnant with me; I attended Moss Lane Junior School. From an early age my mother instilled in me a strong feeling of respect for others (like standing up when older people needed to sit down, opening door for ladies, helping out with older residents in our street by clearing snow from the front doors in winter time, basically just helping everyone). 

 

My mother moved to Hindley when I was about 9 but I was very settled at the time and had a lot of friends so I stayed in Platt Bridge and lived with my grandma.

 

Later I went to live with my mum in Coniston Road, Hindley where I attended Argyle Street Junior School and then Mornington Road High School. My interests at school included mathematics, woodwork and football and I also developed a passion for motorbikes and for Northern Soul Music, both of which I am still very involved with to this day. I learned to dance at the youth club in the Monaco Ballroom every Monday night and I still really enjoy both the music and the dancing at the age of 53!

 

I wanted to be a bricklayer when I left school but was unable to secure an apprenticeship, and instead, found myself employment with a Saw Doctor firm, where I served an apprenticeship and took to the job like a “duck to water”, making many friends. Following this, I went to work on the buses for 10 very enjoyable years; an experience which helped to make me the person I am today.

 

In 1991 I started my own business as a Saw Doctor and this is still on going.

 

As a result of conversations with friends over the workings of local government, and Wigan Council in particular, I decided to join the Community Action Party and in 2004 was asked to stand as a candidate. I was elected in 2004 for a three year term, but didn’t stand for CAP again in 2007. In 2008 I was elected as an Independent Councillor, and was re-elected in 2012, increasing my majority by 500 votes.

 

I am extremely proud and honoured to represent the people of Hindley Green and intend to repay their support by doing my best for them. One day I would like to be a Member of Parliament as I see that as a way of helping even more people.

 

My personal interests include a strong passion for charity work and I am often involved in fundraising at the Three Sisters Race Circuit in Ashton. Money raised at these events has been donated to help charities and good causes such as Riding for Disabled Children, Derian House, The charity, Whiz Kids and also a young girl whose family was raising money to take her to America for treatment to fight cancer.

 

I am looking forward to working on the Charity Committee for the next Mayor, who will be raising money to re-equip the recovery ward at the Coronary Care Unit at Wigan Infirmary. 

 

I am a hopeless romantic at heart and have a passion for old things from the 1900's, like my collection of cake stands.  I like walks in parks and looking at old buildings like Haigh Hall, Wigan Park, plus others around Bolton that I've just discovered. Chester is a great place to visit and every chance I get I get on my bike (Suzuki GSX 1400), just to sit out side my favourite cafe close to the iron bridge on the riverside drinking a nice cup of tea watching the world go by.

 

On my 40th birthday (in February 1999) I had over 650 people attend my party at the Monaco Ballroom, Hindley; I also received in excess of 300 phone calls wishing me well.  My step father (Harry) asked me did I know everyone at my party personally, I replied ‘yes’, I'm glad he saw that before he died in the October.