Linda Thomas – Bolton Council

Westhoughton: 1995-96 (Labour). Bolton: 2020-2022* (Labour)

Bury, Lancashire 1951

St Margaret's CE Primary School, Prestwich, Lancashire; Stand Grammar School for Girls, Whitefield, Lancashire; Bolton Institute of Technology

Born Carol Linda Corris and brought up in Prestwich. Always used her middle name, Linda.

Moved to Bolton in 1970 to study at BIT for a degree in Economics, History and Anthropology but was unable to complete her final year due to family commitments.

Lived first in Breightmet and Hindley Green for a short while before settling in Westhoughton.

Ran Hollins Park Community Playgroup, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton 1984-96.

Member of Westhoughton Town Council 1988-96.

Represented Westhoughton South Ward on Bolton Council from May 1988 until May 1992 and Halliwell Ward from October 1995.

Deputy Leader of the Labour Group of Bolton Council June 2004 - December 2017 and again from 6 May 2022.

Deputy Leader of Bolton Council 24 May 2006 - 8 January 2018.

Executive responsibility for Corporate Resources 2006-08.

Executive responsibility for Children 2008-12.

Executive responsibility for People including Children’s Adults and Health 2012-18.

Leader of the Labour Group of Bolton Council from December 2017 to 15 May 2020.

Acting Leader of Bolton Council 8 January 2018 to 5 February 2018. Leader of Bolton Council from 5 February 2018 to May 2019.

Served as a Governor of St James (Daisy Hill) CE Primary, Westhoughton High School and Bolton College.

Chair BASE Charity (Bolton Accommodation Support Employment) 1996-2000

Chair Eatock Primary School from 1990 and Oxford Grove Primary from 1995.

Local Government Association member 2007-19.

Deputy Chair Environment Board 2008-10.

Deputy Chair Community Well-being Board 2010-15.

Vice Chair Community Well-being Board 2015-18.

Her consort was her husband Leonard Thomas.

Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Bolton University 2018 for her community work.

**The traditional Mayor making at a ceremonial meeting of the full Council, scheduled for Wednesday 13 May 2020, was cancelled as no meetings of the Council were taking place at that time due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Instead, a virtual online meeting of the Constitutional Panel comprising of party leaders took place on Friday 15 May 2020 in which Cllr Thomas was voted in as Mayor of Bolton. Cllr Thomas was voted in as Mayor of Bolton for a second term of office at the AGM of the Council on 26 May 2021 due to her first term having limited engagements due to the Covid 19 pandemic.