2016-2017, Councillor Ron Conway, Mayor of Wigan Borough

The Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Ron Conway, is very proud to assume the role of first citizen of the borough.

Ron was born in Wigan, his parents having moved to Hindley 8 years previously. His mother Win and father Kaz met during the war and were married in Fleetwood in 1945. His father was born in Warsaw, Poland and served in the Royal Air Force as a rear gunner in Wellington bombers.

Ron attended St. Benedict’s Junior School and Cardinal Newman RC High School, where he excelled at sports, in particular rugby, being Captain of the school team.

After leaving school, Ron began his working life in the chemical industry, climbing the ladder to become Production Manager, a position which gave him the opportunity to travel and speak at conferences in America, Canada, France and Malta.

Ron and his wife Janet met at High School and married in 1975. Janet is a teacher and has taught in Wigan since qualifying in 1976. They have one daughter, Jessica who lives in Coppull.

In 1996 Ron embarked on a completely new career and took up a position in the funeral profession. He qualified as a Funeral Director gaining his Diploma in Funeral Directing from the British Institute of Funeral Directors.

He now works as a consultant Funeral Director and is well known around the borough, often being seen in his tail coat and carrying his top hat. Ron enjoys his work, helping people during extremely difficult times following bereavement.

Ron has been a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady’s RC Church Haigh for over 20 years, taking communion to the elderly, sick or housebound.

Many years ago Ron was approached by Harry Carey, his teacher from High School, to set up a forum to give residents in Aspull, New Springs and Whelley an opportunity to work together to benefit the area. Ron was Chair of the forum until very recently and still attends meetings each month.

This voluntary work developed his interest in local politics and in 2010 Ron was elected as Councillor for Aspull, New Springs and Whelley.

Ron always loves a challenge and if he can raise money for charity he will have a go. Each year he takes part in the Hospice Manchester to Blackpool bike ride and the Wigan 10k. Ron and Janet are members of the Wigan Water Dragons and regularly take to the waters on Scotsman’s Flash to paddle the Dragon boat with supporters and survivors of breast cancer.

Both Ron and Janet are season ticket holders at Wigan Warriors and are hoping that the Wigan team will be collecting some trophies during this Mayoral year. They also wish the best of luck to all the borough’s sporting teams.