Romantic Rochdale despite peacock escape!

10.09.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Aug 2006

Balderstone and Kirkholt Councillor - Dale Mulgrew recently celebrated his Wedding to Phillipa Rowley at a lovely reception at Rochdale Town Hall. Dale, who was elected in May, danced the night away only yards from the Rochdale Council Chamber. Where only weeks before he had attended his first Council Meeting.

The Wedding Party included Dale's Godfather - Sir Cyril Smith and of course local MP - Paul Rowen. The run up to the wedding was a slightly different affair though. When most grooms would be getting over the pre-nuptial nerves or staggering around some of Europe's 'stag' destinations like Prague or Amsterdam. Dale was chasing peacocks all over his Ward of Balderstone and Kirkholt.

Dale explains, "A few days before the wedding I received a phone call from residents disturbed by noises at night - I can assure you it wasn't my mates and I enjoying my last nights of freedom. On investigation, it appeared to escaped peacocks from a local small holding. They were spotted in various locations in one section of my ward, but the pesky peacocks kept escaping. Finally, we caught them but I had visions of spending the morning of my wedding trying to catch them."

On a serious note the wedding was a great success and Dale said, "It was a lovely occasion that couldn't have gone better and my wife looked stunning. I was considering writing into the vows a promise of FOCUS delivery but I don't know if that would have gone down too well."

Sir Cyril Smith said, "I was so proud on the day, I have known Dale's dad for years and was so proud when he asked me to be Dale's Godfather around 30 years ago. I was proud when he started following in my footsteps and was elected as a Councillor for this great borough. It was unexpected as he was in a distant third place, hard works pays off and Dale is making a first class Councillor. I was delighted to attend the wedding and the choice of Rochdale Town Hall for the reception was excellent."

Dale would like to confirm that peacock was not on the menu at his wedding reception.