Latics chairman Frank Rothwell has been honoured for work to create a "thriving" Oldham.

Frank has made significant contributions to the community over the years with business ventures, charity work and rescuing Oldham FC.

The Rotary Club of Oldham said the Rotary Club of Oldham's Community Service Shield was presented to him for "not only the saving of Oldham Athletic but the new emphasis through the Rothwell family for a thriving community-based project which will benefit the whole of Oldham."

Rotary Club of Oldham president Bernard Stone was joined by representatives of Chadderton and Failsworth Rotary Club and also Crompton and Royton Rotary Club, who presented cheques totalling £1,500 for Frank’s chosen charity, Alzheimers Research UK as well as the shield.

Frank's is well known for twice setting the world record for the oldest person to solo row the Atlantic Ocean in fundraisers for Alzheimer's Research UK, raising more than £1.35m.

He also recently raised in excess of £6,000 for Dr Kershaw's Hospice in a single night at An Evening With Frank, a charity event held for the hospice.

Frank said: "I feel really honoured and humbled to to have received the shield from the Rotary Clubs and I thank them very much for being nominated for it and really appreciate their respect in what I have achieved."

Frank also founded borough-based company Manchester Cabins, which supply temporary buildings and have held contracts for accommodations for universities, building companies and even the armed forces.

The Community Service Shield was first presented in 2000, coincidentally, to Oldham Athletic AFC for their work in developing the skills of young people and their wider community efforts at the time. 

Since the first award, the shield has been given annually to individuals that have been deemed to have made "exceptional" services to the town and its people.