BUSINESSMAN Norman Stoller MBE will be installed as the new High Sheriff of Greater Manchester on Friday, April 16.

Mr Stoller, who is President of Oldham-based Seton Scholl Healthcare PLC, will be sworn in at a ceremony in Oldham Council Chamber.

He lived in Whitefield for 30 years and moved to Lostock, Bolton, two years ago following his divorce.

His son Martin and his daughter Linzi, now Mrs Parkinson, both went to Bolton School.

One of Mr Stoller's key activities will be a new Greater Manchester community campaign - "Make a Difference" - under the auspices of Greater Manchester Police and its Chief Constable, David Wilmot.

Mr Stoller said he looked on his new appointment as a great honour and believed that the new Millennium was an ideal point to make a new start in repairing some of the social fabric of our society.

"The objective is to encourage those preparing for the world of work to earn rewards for personal projects and team initiatives throughout their schools and colleges aimed at tackling crime and disorder," he said.

The Office of High Sheriff dates from Saxon times and is the oldest secular office in the Kingdom after the crown.

Mr Stoller, who was approved personally by the Queen, is a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

He is also a former CBI/Daily Telegraph Businessman of the Year, Chairman of the Stoller Charitable Trust, the County President of St John Ambulance, Greater Manchester and Honorary Life President of the Oldham Chamber of Commerce Training and Enterprise.

His father formed Seton in 1952 to market his invention of the tubular bandage.

The company's activities - subsequently built-up by Norman Stoller during a 40-year career - currently include the production and distribution of a large range of branded healthcare products and over-the counter medicines.

A recent merger with Scholl has added footcare and footwear to the portfolio.

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