Care home owner and ex-soldier becomes first citizen of ‘amazing’ adopted town

The new Mayor of Bolton has said he will dedicate his year in office to promoting Bolton and celebrating the borough’s many charities. Coun Andy Morgan was appointed as Bolton’s first citizen at a full council meeting on Wednesday, May 15.

He takes on the role from Coun Mohammed Ayub, who will now perform the duties of deputy mayor. Coun Morgan was born and raised in Leicester before joining the army a week before his 16th birthday.

He graduated from training 18 months later and joined his regiment, the Army Air Corps, serving in Germany, Canada, and Northern Ireland. After securing a position with British Aerospace he moved to Saudi Arabia at the age of 22 where he spent ten years working for the company in Riyadh.

He returned to the UK with his family in 1999 and settled in Bolton after purchasing the family business, a care home, which they still own and where he is the managing director. He has three sons, Elliott, 26, Oliver, 25 and Dominic, 21, who all still live and work in Bolton.

In 2002 Coun Morgan started his council career when he was elected to represent the then ward of Hulton Park until 2014 for the Conservatives. In 2015 he was re-elected to the council representing the now Heaton, Lostock and Chew Moor ward. Coun Morgan has been the shadow portfolio holder for the adults, health and wellbeing portfolio since joining the council and was later executive cabinet member responsible for adult services, safeguarding and housing services.

He has also served on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Scrutiny Committee and also the GMCA Health Scrutiny Committee and has been a member of the planning committee for 20 years. He was also Bolton Council’s armed forces champion for four years.

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