Everyone at Bolton Wanderers Football Club and Bolton Wanderers in the Community are deeply saddened by the passing of Councillor David Chadwick, Deputy Mayor of Bolton, who died on Wednesday morning.
David served the people of Westhoughton for more than thirty years, sitting as a Westhoughton Town Councillor and as ward councillor for Westhoughton South, and holding roles including Cabinet Member for Transport and Chair of the Licensing Committee. He was also a school governor, a charity trustee and a volunteer for community groups across the borough.
He was inaugurated as Mayor of Bolton for 2025/26, a year he carried out with the dedication, warmth and good humour that everyone who met him will remember. Speaking at his Mayor Making ceremony in May of last year, he said: "There can be no prouder Boltonian than me as I represent the town through the coming year."
David grew up in Morris Green, where his parents ran a confectioner's shop and where he played his football in the backstreets of Bolton. He attended St Bede's C of E School and Bolton County Grammar School before working in the textile industry and later at the Royal Bolton Hospital. He was a Wanderer from childhood and held a season ticket for most of his life.
During his mayoral year he chose Bolton Wanderers in the Community as one of his three charities, alongside the Critical Care Unit at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Westhoughton Community Assist Service. He presented BWitC with a cheque for £5,000 in May.
Chairman Sharon Brittan said: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Councillor David Chadwick.
"David gave more than thirty years of service to Bolton and to the people of Westhoughton, and last year he served our town as its Mayor, a role he carried out with real warmth, good humour and enormous pride. He was, by his own words, the proudest Boltonian of all.
"He was a Wanderer from childhood and a season ticket holder for most of his life. He chose Bolton Wanderers in the Community as one of his mayoral charities and raised thousands of pounds for its work across the borough. That choice told you everything about where his heart was.
"I always enjoyed the time I spent in his company, and his kindness is what I will remember most. On behalf of everyone at Bolton Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers in the Community, our thoughts are with his wife Valerie, his children Matthew and Victoria, his grandchildren and all who knew him. May he rest in eternal peace."
Ben Lawton, Chief Executive of Bolton Wanderers in the Community, said: "David's decision to make us one of his chosen charities during his mayoral term meant an enormous amount to everyone here and the funds he raised go directly into our work with people right across the borough.
"He was wonderful company and he gave his time freely to so many good causes in this town. Bolton is a better place for the work he did and we are very grateful to him. Our thoughts are with Valerie and all of David's family."