A BOLTON businessman in what is believed to be the town’s oldest family-owned company has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bolton for community service.

Richard Hurst, who is chairman of the Trust which runs the USN Bolton Arena, said he was “very proud” of his Doctorate. This not only reflects many years of involvement in the town but is also another chapter in his family’s history of public service.

Mr Hurst is chairman of Richard Threlfall Group, formerly based in Salop Street in the town centre and now in Lostock. The company is 182 years old and was founded three years before Queen Victoria came to the throne by Mr Hurst’s great, great grandfather.

The business manufactured advanced textile machinery for Lancashire’s then booming cotton industry but diversified over time to meet market needs. Today, it has two companies - Orseal, suppliers of industrial valves, and Silteq which manufactures bespoke silicone rubber compounds.

At 70, Mr Hurst, while still company chairman, is not as actively involved as he once was. One constant, however, has been the family’s involvement in outside bodies.

His parents, Richard (Dickie) Hurst OBE was president of Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce and his mother, Barbara, was a former Mayor of Bolton and Honorary Alderman. Both had long track records of community service.

Richard Hurst has been involved in many organisations including being a governor of Bolton College and chairman of the local Training and Enterprise Council.

He has an enduring interest in sport and was involved with the start of Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, has just stepped down as Captain of Bolton Golf Club and is President of Markland Hill Racquets Club.

He became a trustee of the Bolton Arena in 2002. “The Arena is a great facility and the staff do a fantastic job”, he stated.

“I think it’s very important for business people to be involved in the community,” added Mr Hurst. “It widens their field of contacts, helps them and their business and allows their workforce to feel that their company is more a part of the community.”

Caption: COMMUNITY AWARD – Richard Hurst, third from left, with members of the USN Bolton Arena senior management team, from left, Suzi Riley, Paul Bartle, Sue Hayes, Gwyn Hughes and Simon Sharrock