Speakers met at a special gala night this week to announce a series of events and festivals taking place in the borough to celebrate of 175 'glorious years' of the incorporation of Oldham.

The event on Monday (March 11) saw guests pack into the performance space in Oldham Gallery to hear from key speakers such as Oldham Athletic legend, Frank Rothwell, and a performance by Oldham Theatre Workshop.

The events taking place across the borough include Oldham Exhibition 175, which will run from June 15 to December at Gallery Oldham, looking at an "incomplete history of Oldham" in 175 objects.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

Festival Oldham will also take place on Saturday, June 1, at Oldham Town Centre between 12pm and 4pm.

Oldham Histories Festival will also take place from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 15, which follows the theme of 'routes, networks and connections'.

The history festival includes gallery talks, town centre walks and behind-the-scenes tours.

Councillor Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council said: “Oldham has a proud and glorious past and it’s only right we celebrate our wonderful borough.

"Oldham is not only important to its residents, but it has made its mark nationally and internationally.

“Oldham was known as Cottonopolis.

"You could say we clothed the world!

"And produced more spun cloth at one time than France and Germany put together.

"Of course, Oldhamers were in the vanguard of the fight for right to vote and produced such heroes as Annie Kenney.

“Today we announced a series of events over the coming weeks and months so the community can come together and celebrate our great past and promising future.” 

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.