This week we encourage chess, tour new Pendle Vale, welcome a royal visitor, meet palestinian women, open Likkle Monkeys and receive a charity cheque

Monday 10 March
The new born lambs are in the field braving the strong winds and freezing rain, the daffodils are starting to show their vivid colours, the curlews are back with their piercing cries and the pheasants are starting their courting.

New born lambs get ready for a bit more rain

Winter keeps reminding us it isn't quite finished yet, but gradually spring is starting to push through, with the prospect of Haworth blossom, the returning of the swallows and warmer days to come.

A winter view towards Barlick and Skipton

Tuesday 11 March
In he afternoon we went into the Town Hall for the first day of the Walton Chess Competition run by John Belbin.

The young chess players in the Council Chamber

Tonight it was the turn of the primary schools from Barrowford, Blacko, Bradley, Holy Saviour, and St Philips. It was a pleasure to see all of the children enjoying their games. I told them I hadn’t played for many years but like riding a bike, you never forget. I also said that chess was more than a game, as amongst other skills it can also teach strategy and taking a longer view. Oliver Smith was the winner with Stephen Parkin second.
In the evening I attended the board meeting of West Craven Together at the new Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick. Funding for this project is like a large jigsaw but the effort that is put in to gaining these show some really positive achievements for west Craven.

Wednesday 12 March
At 10.00am we went to see how the new Pendle Vale School, which is presently being built, was coming on. It is costing around £30m but it looks to me to be worth every penny.

This is the impressive entrance area to the new Pendle Vale College

The facilities are extensive including a coffee bar, climbing wall, fitness gym, restaurant, lots of classrooms, a massive sports hall, (which looked like it could easily fit a jumbo jet), and a very big outdoor sports area.

Here we are in what is a fantastic large hall, the roof of which you can see from miles away

We were kitted out in safety gear including wellies and then the site manager, together with the Head Teacher accompanied us around the massive site which is due to open in September. We were really impressed and I would expect children coming to this school would be able to be able to strongly develop and to go on to take big roles in their future. This new Pendle school is certain to win design awards when it is completed.

Togged up in safety gear we are shown around the exciting new school

At 4pm it was back to the Town Hall for the second day of the Walton Chess competition. Today was for secondary school students. They were from Park High and Fisher-Moore schools. Again, excellent standards were shown and the senior winner was Joshua Wood from Park High for the second year running.

The winner of the senior trophy, Joshua who is going on to study Rugby at College

Joshua told me that his granddad taught him to play when he was 5 years old. Divas Bhandari from Fisher Moore School won the junior trophy.


Thursday 13 March
We had a royal visit today by Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex who was here to officially open Number One Market Street in Nelson.

We welcome Prince Edward to Number One Market Street

We had previously met the Princess last year, when as Deputy Mayor we had welcomed him to the Coldwell Centre on a really hot day in July.
Today children from lots of our local schools welcomed him. It was cold and wet day but the children gave a splash of colour waving their flags and cheering the Prince. He managed to find time in the busy programme to chat to some of them.

The children didn't seem to mind a bit of rain, as they got ready to greet the Prince

Inside Number One he was shown around the impressive facilities and to meet with some of the staff. I then invited The Prince to unveil the plaque to commemorate the opening. Everyone was pleased with the visit and it spotlighted the many big improvements that are now underway in Nelson town centre.

Friday 14 March
In the morning I chaired the monthly board meeting at my business in Nelson. Afterwards I nipped in to Nelson Town Hall to meet with a group of Palestinian women who were over to highlight their issues.

The Palestinian ladies liked our green fields but not our rain and cold

They all had caught a bug from not being used to our rather cold and damp air at this time of the year. We showed them our civic regalia and got them to sign the visitors book before leaving.
We then had a meeting to go through the Mayoral budget with council officers, which looks like we are just about on target. I asked for more umbrellas as the ones that use now could do with being replaced. I was told that we were now around the £10k mark in the Mayoress Charity Fund.

Saturday 15 March
In the morning we opened Likkle Monkeys a new children’s indoor play and party centre in Colne.

Opening Likkle Monkeys play centre in Colne

The business is run by June Smith and Susan Kelly and has been supported by a grant by Pendle Council.

Susan, June and Mark join us for a group photo

We cut the ribbon to open it and then went in for a look around the play areas accompanied with a big red monkey. After a short speech we chatted with some of the people that were there for the opening.

The little lad on the left wanted to get past in a hurry

They opening was very well attended and it looked very promising for the successful future of Likkle Monkeys.
In the evening we went to Brierfield Community Centre for a Charity Dinner organised by the young people of the town.

We receive a big cheque from the young people of Brierfield

The group of young men had been on a leadership course organised by Brierfield Action in the Community and agreed to hold the fund raising event. They had produced their own DVD to explain what they had achieved. We presented certificates to all them and received a cheque for the Mayoress’s Charities for over £500. We were very impressed with their commitment and I am sure that they will go on to greater things. I used to live in Brierfield for many years and still care about what happens there, I get my hair cut there so I still find out what is going on in the town.

Colne British Legion give us a nice welcome

From there we went along the The British Legion Club in Colne who were also raising funds for our charities. We met many of the club members and showed them the civic chains, which were first worn over 100 years ago in Colne. I was also shown the Croix de Guerre awarded to Gilbert Tempest as a young soldier who fought in the First World War who was well know in Colne.

Gilbert Tempest - 1898 - 1999

Born in 1898, Gilbert died in 1999 after living to the ripe old age of 100 and in his will he left his medals to the club.

This week we choose favourite music, welcome european students, host the Mayors Black & White Ball, see Madam Butterfly and welcome our twin towns

Monday 3 March
As I am keen to continue to visit as many of our thriving businesses in Pendle as possible, I went along to three of our local companies. The first was Just Glass a new start up company in Nelson to see how we had been able to support them with a grant for equipment.

Just Glass show me how the window panels are made up

It reminded me of when I started my own business back in 1976, having to manage on very little money whilst building it up. Young businesses like Just Glass need help and support when they are in their early stages, and Pendle is able to do that. In the afternoon we went to meet Graham the MD of Korribox on Lomeshaye Estate.

At Korribox we see their big cutting and stripping machine

They have been going for a few years and now growing quickly. The company, which produces the kind of boxes, which you will see in supermarkets, is well managed and has sound controls in place. They also had received a grant for a screen-printing machine. Later in the afternoon we went to see Gary Little the MD of Kirk Engineering.

Gary Little the MD of Kirk tells me about their growth plan

They have premises in Colne as well as Earby, which is where we went to. This company is going through rapid growth and is in need of larger premises. The press turned up for photos so we were able to give them a bit of well-earned publicity.

Tuesday 4 March
In the morning we went to meet again with Pendle Community Network who are partnering with us to put on the first Pendle Community Volunteers Awards. We decide to hold it at Nelson Town Hall on Wednesday May 7th. We have lots of people in Pendle who give up their time freely to help their community groups. These volunteers do not often get thanked and this will give us the perfect opportunity to do this. We decided to present the winners with certificates and trophies and to video the event. It looks to be shaping up to be a great event, which I hope will be repeated yearly.
Afterwards we nipped in to the Town Hall to see how the preparations were going for the Mayors Black & White Charity Ball on Friday. Jane and the other officers were in full control and there was little left for us to sort out.
In the afternoon I delivered Focus leaflets to part of my ward of Coates Barnoldswick, which took me around 3½ hours. It certainly keeps you fit pushing leaflets through letterboxes. (Have you ever seen a fat postman?)
Just time for a spot of tea before going to the West Craven Area Committee at Rolls Royce Club where we had several planning applications to consider. We also heard of the progress of the large investment going into Victory Park Barnoldswick.

Wednesday 5 March
After a morning meeting at work, I went along to Barnoldswick Library for the meeting of the Barnoldswick Music Society in the afternoon. Around 30 local people had come along.

I get to choose my favourite tracks at the Barnoldswick Music Society

The society has been going for many years and was originally just for classical music. But I had been invited to play my personal choice of music and had been told it could be anything. I have a wide taste in music from jazz to blues to classical to opera. Choosing a list was extremely difficult but most enjoyable. It was a bit like desert island discs where I gave the reason for choosing each particular track then play the music. I told them a bit about my family history, how I got to become Mayor and about the Pendle civic chains.

Here’s my choice;

Dancing in the Street - Martha and the Vandellas
Wishin & Hopin – Dusty Springfield
The times they are a-changing – Bob Dylan
The Flower Duet - Lesley Garrett
We love Mambo – Booker T & the MGs
We have all the time in the World - Louis Armstrong
House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
Lets spend the Night Together – The Rolling Stones
Dirty old town – The Pogues
Fanfare for the Common Man - Copeland
Walk of Life - Dire Straits
Eight Days a week – Beatles
Da Do Ron Ron -The Crystals
Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega
Ain’t got no, I got life – Nina Simone
In the Midnight Hour – The Commitments

Just time for a quick change before getting over to Nelson Town Hall for a meeting with European students from Nelson & Colne College.

Nelson & Colne students come to see what the Mayor does

Over 40 attended and afterwards I checked where they were originally from. They came from Turkey, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Pakistan, Thailand and many other countries. I gave them all chance to see the civic regalia and explained what I did as Mayor. Afterwards whist I showed them this blog, we discussed food, the weather and lots of issues that interested them.

Thursday 6 March
In the evening it was the Barnoldswick Town Council Annual Town Meeting. The start of the meeting was to present awards for special people in our community. Afterwards we went on to hear what residents felt about the recent Supermarket planning application for the Butts. As several of us are also Councillors on the West Craven Area Committee we were unable to do much but listen, as the government planning regulations for councillors is strict.

Friday 7 March
I had to nip in to the office to pick up the Menus for tonight’s Black & White Charity Ball. From there I went to Park High School in Colne for the Schools IT Fair, organised by Colne Rotary Club, which was very well attended.

Look at that - you can just see it spanning a great river

Many local schools where competing with a technology test to produce a bridge. The test had differing complications depending on the student’s age. Teachers were also competing with the students. I managed to get around all of the school teams and my knowledge of how Telford built his bridges came in useful. I chatted to all the teams, this sort of event really does show how great are young people are.

I show great interest in how they have tackled the project

They are obviously going to be successful in whatever they decide to do for their futures.

In the evening it was the Mayors Black & White Charity Ball at Colne Muni.

The reception committee greets everyone to the ball

Here's what I said;

Welcome to the annual Mayor’s Black and White Charity Ball.

As the 32nd Mayor of Pendle it has been a both a very busy and enjoyable year for the Mayoress - my sister Barbara and myself. During our year we have seen and done many things and met lots of interesting people. This includes walking the 46 miles of the Pendle Way both ways, climbing to the top of all of our great hills Pendle, Weets and Boulsworth, in my suit, with the chains on, walking the whole length of the canal in Pendle and also getting thoroughly soaked wet through twice when Beating the Bounds.

We have had cucumber sandwiches on the Royal lawn, strawberries at the house of Lords, Dinner at the Commons and when the Mayors of Lancashire and Craven visited us for our tour of Pendle - fish & chips. We have met lots of Pendle residents who have reach the ripe old age of 100 years old, several couples holding their diamond weddings, and people of all ages and from all walks of life. They all have an interesting story to tell. I have kept everyone who wished to know what I was doing, informed with my Mayors Blog.

I was pleased that recently we were able to host the first Pendle Business Awards. The event was a great success and showed the extremely high standard of our local businesses. In May we will do the first Pendle Community Volunteers Awards to give us the opportunity to thank the local volunteers who give their time freely for our community.

An extra special welcome to our friends who have joined us this evening from Pendle’s twin towns of Creil in France and Marl in Germany. My special thanks go to our, mostly young, council officers who have enthusiastically helped with the organisation for tonight’s ball.
And can I thank you all for joining with us tonight and I hope that you will be generous in supporting our charity Raffle, Tombola and Golden Envelope. We have some great prizes, so please feel free to spend as much as you like, its all for charity.

Friends from Marl, Creil and Pendle get together for a press call

It was a black tie do, in keeping with the black & white theme. There has been a tradition of holding civic balls for over a century.

The younger members of our family group

We had around 150 people including guest from our twinned towns of Creil, France and Marl Germany, there for a grand do with excellent food and live swing from big band - Sounds 18.

The Colne LibDems enjoy the night

We also raised almost £1500 for our charities; Rainbows Special Needs Nursery, West Craven First Responders and the Burnley & Pendle Befriending Scheme.

The Deputy Mayor of Marl greets Pauline and other members of the Twinning Association

Here’s our press release;

Almost £1,500 raised at Mayor’s Black and White Charity Ball
A total of £1,425 was raised at the Mayor of Pendle’s Black and White Charity Ball. Coun Allan Buck and his Mayoress, Mrs Barbara Mitchell were joined by 130 fund-raising guests at Colne Muni on Friday night. The ball was held to raise funds for West Craven First Responders, Rainbows Special Needs Therapy Nursery and the Burnley and Pendle Befriending Scheme. The money was made from a raffle, tombola and golden envelope game, as well as a number of generous donations from other people. The evening started with a drinks reception and was followed by a three-course, buffet-style meal with wine. Big swing band Sounds 18 provided the entertainment for the black and white themed evening. Guests from our twinned towns of Creil and Marl, who were visiting Pendle for the weekend, joined the Mayor and Mayoress for the night.
“The evening went with a real swing,” said Coun Buck. “We sampled some excellent food, enjoyed some real live music and at the same time raised lots of money for our worthy local charities. “Everyone told me how much they had enjoyed the ball and it was also nice to have the visitors from our twin towns join us.”

Saturday 8 March
In the evening we joined the Twinning Committee for a visit to Manchester with our friends from Creil and Marl to see the opera Madam Butterfly by Puccini. It was first produced at Teatro alla Scalla in Milan on February 17, 1904. The part of Madam Butterfly was taken by Elana Dee with a powerful soprano voice.
The story is that of a young Japanese girl who falls in love and marries Lieutenant Pinkerton from the USA navy. He then goes back to sea saying that he will return. Three years later she still waits for him, but unknown to her, he had re-married. When eventually he does return, he finds that she has had his son. His new wife and he say that they will look after his son and then Madam Butterfly kills herself! Or something like that.
As we were getting back on the coach for the return journey, one of the Twinning Committee joked that the opera was all sex and violence!

Sunday 9 March
At 10.30 we went to support the volunteers of the friends group at Barrowford Park who were clearing the bog garden.

I only do a token dig as I am not really dressed for the part

It was raining a bit but they were all giving up their Sunday morning to help make the park just that little bit better. The press turned up so we all had a picture taken before I had to leave for the Creil, Marl and Pendle Twinning Committee Annual General Meeting. This was held at Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford.

The Deputy Mayor of Marl and representatives from Pendle and Creil Twinning Assoociation join me at the start of the meeting

All of our guests from Creil and Marl joined with our Pendle committee members to see how we could expand our joint visits. Lots of good suggestions came forward including more links with schools and cultural groups. We also decide to encourage links with businesses. I suggested that Pendle’s tourism and walking opportunities could be promoted in Creil and Marl. We had some of them willing to come over for the Pendle Walking Festival in September. At the meeting I was joined by the deputy Mayor of Marl and an ex-Mayor of Creil, when we all gave a short speech. It was the first time ever that I had been translated into French and German.

My short speech about the Viking, Saxons and Romans coming over here to pillage and Barnoldswick Town FC being every bit as good as Manchester United is translated into 3 languages!

Afterwards everyone exchanged gifts and had a tour of the Heritage Centre before having lunch. The parties from Marl and Creil left for their flight back home afterwards.

. . . and finally - I had this wonderful picture coloured in by Rachel Tomlinson of Higham School, where I had visited last week. I think that I look very young and trendy. Thank you!

This week we have official photos, attend launch of Pendle Vision, enjoy the Pendle Business Awards, see Fairtrade fashions and visit Higham School

Monday 25 February
I have very a busy week in front of me and start by going into the town hall for a meeting with the council solicitor regarding an appeal against he Licensing Committees decision on the planned Shamania Festival. The appeal hearing is due to go to the magistrates court in April which I shall be attending.

I then went into my business to do the final check of Pendle Business Awards booklets and menus which were being designed in our graphics studio. In the early afternoon I met with Janet Fraser from Helping Hands Partnership who wanted to talk to me about the setting up of a Community Enterprise Board. There is already one facilitated under the Sirolli Institute in Rossendale and they want to expand it into Pendle.

Tuesday 26 February
Into the Town Hall for a meeting about civic finance, which as this was the first time I had been involved with this, and was very illuminating. The budgets look about right and we should be able to complete the term within it. We followed that with another meeting regarding the Black & White Civic Charity Ball, which for the first time is being organised by Jane and the committee clerks.

I perch on a stool at the top of the stairs and the photographer is on a ladder for the photo

After that we had our official photographs taken. All Mayors, have had their photograph taken, right back from the first Nelson Mayors in the1890’s. So we are continuing civic history. However most Mayors in recent years had their picture in the Mayor’s Parlour but I didn’t want that so we had it taken in front of the old glass doors that lead to the Council Chamber. Being a devil for detail I wanted the stained glass in the doors to show well so I insisted on standing on a stepladder to get to the right height.

The Mayoress shows the effect that we are after

In the evening I was back in the Town Hall again for Pendle Council’s Special Budget Meeting. This is never an easy meeting as budgets speeches are made but you can never be sure what amendments will be moved, so I have to really try to keep my wits about me. The meeting went on for 2½ hours and because I have to sit in the extremely uncomfortable big Mayor’s chair in my gown and civic chains, I was more than a little drained by the time that we had finished.

Wednesday 27 February
I didn’t get as much sleep as I would have liked as I was woken by an earthquake at 1am! The quake measuring 5.2 on Richter scale was over in Lincolnshire, but felt all over the country. It was like a train running over the ceiling and made the lights rattle.
In the morning I paid my first visit to the Fence Gate Inn for the run through of the Pendle Business Awards event. The council staff looked to be in full control and the setting looked great, so I left to nip back home for a quick change. Back then to the Fence Gate for the launch of Pendle Vision at 1pm. Pendle Vision promotes the economic regeneration of Pendle and was promised £200k by the Northwest Development Agency to get it started. The main speaker was Sir Peter Hall on; the new geography of England and where does Pendle fit? At 4pm the launch was running a bit late so I had to make my getaway to be able to prepare myself for the Awards event in the evening.

Deborah the organiser and I welcome the first Pendle Business Awards

Everyone told us that the First Pendle Business Awards were an incredible success.

We welcomed everyone to the great event - including my son Alex, Media Director of Printoff Graphic Arts Ltd

We had around 250 people attending from local businesses and support organisations.

I get on stage to thank our successful Pendle businesses to the event

Petty's - winners of the staff training award with Brian Hough M.D. of Printoff, the award sponsor

I went around the tables to chat with as many people as I could get to and was really pleased with the positive attitudes of our innovative companies.

PR pic with Sue - communications and Deborah - Economic Development

Around 80 companies entered for the awards which we had shortlisted down to 30. These were then reduced further to the 9 worthy winners.

Winners! Of the successful first Pendle Business Awards

The Winners!
New Business of the Year
Giddy Kippers, Nelson – Children’s party and play centre
Small Retailer of the Year
Presentation, Barrowford – Gift shop
Most Outstanding Business of the Year – (small)
Harvey Environmental, Colne – Pest control and washroom services
Most Outstanding Business of the Year – (medium/large)
Hope Technology, Barnoldswick – Design and manufacture mountain bike disc brakes and accessorises
Business Commitment to Staff Training
H W Petty, Nelson – Estate agents
Business Commitment to Community
Loop Publishing, Nelson – Northern Life Magazine
Environmental Business of the Year
Malkin Tower Farm, Blacko – Holiday cottages
Business Woman of the Year
Annette Getty - PDS Engineering, Nelson – High Accuracy CNC Engineers
Business Person of the Year
Matthew Kibble – Matthew Kibble Transport, Colne – Haulage
The Mayor’s Lifetime Business Achievement Award
Philip McIvor – Farmhouse Biscuits, Nelson

Everyone enjoying the awards

The last winner, was for my Mayor’s special award for a business person who had contributed significantly to the community in Pendle and Philip McIvor had certain had done that.

Here’s the press release;
Pendle’s first ever business awards is a huge success All the glitz and glamour of the Oscars came to the Fence Gate Inn, for Pendle’s first ever business awards. A total of 250 people packed into the Fence venue for the prestigious event which had been organised to recognise and reward the best of Pendle’s high achieving businesses. Almost 80 companies responded to an invite from the Mayor of Pendle to be rewarded for their hard work and dedication.
Coun Allan Buck came up with the idea of the awards. He was thrilled with the response and especially the variety of professions that showed interest. He said: “We have a lot of very successful enterprises here in Pendle that deserve recognition and I felt this was an ideal way to do it. “We had a fantastic night. Everyone looked to thoroughly enjoy themselves, whether they were up for an award or there just to support someone who was.” The atmosphere was electric. There were screams of delight, rapturous applause and some genuinely very surprised people. “It had been a very difficult task dwindling the entrants down to just three in each category. In fact, we had to make it four in a couple because of the standard of the entrants,” added Coun Buck. “But we had some very worthy winners - and the shocked look on some of the recipients’ faces was a picture! “Philip McIvor was particularly surprised to receive well-deserved appreciation for his lifetime of work in business and with the community. “Everyone in the room rose to their feet to applaud him when he stepped up to collect his award.” Coun Buck added: “The event was a huge success and we are already looking forward to the next one in 2010.
”But if anyone wants to read more about the evening and see it in pictures, they can log on to my Blog on Pendle Council’s website.”
All the short-listed companies were invited to the awards ceremony. The evening started with a champagne reception, followed by a sit-down meal before the winners were announced.

The Pendle Council staff that did all of the hard work

I got back home by 1am and I can tell you that I was ready for a really good night’s sleep with hopefully no earthquakes.

Thursday 28 February
In the afternoon we went to Barnoldswick’s Victory Park to open the brand new Multi Use Games Area.

I give my opening speech to the children and everyone at Victory Park

We were there with children from St Joseph’s Primary School who showed me how to throw the basketball and helped me cut the ribbon. As usual the scissors were extremely blunt!
Local councillors, council staff, together with the police and a lady from the Big Lottery (who had provided some of the funding) also joined us.

The children jump for joy at the new play area and I get to use the blunt scissors

Here’s the press release;
Pupils from St Joseph’s RC Primary School will be first to use a brand new Multi Use Games Area in Barnoldswick’s Victory Park today, when the Mayor of Pendle officially declares it open. The Mayor, Coun Allan Buck, will be joined at the official opening ceremony on Thursday 28th February by West Craven councillors, representatives from The Big Lottery Fund, staff from Parkdale Play and Leisure, members of Pendle Council and Liberata staff.
The new multi-use games area, or MUGA, provides sporting facilities for local youngsters to play football, hockey, basketball and cricket. The MUGA’s bitmac surface means they can even play in poor weather conditions. And floodlights have been installed so that they can enjoy playing in the evenings - they switch on at dusk, or in poor light conditions, via a photo sensitive cell, and automatically switch off at 9pm.
The Mayor of Pendle said : “I’m happy to be opening this brand new games area for the young people of Barnoldswick. I hope that they will enjoy many happy hours playing here.” Coun Ann Kerrigan, who represents Parks and Recreation in Pendle, said : “This new MUGA has been funded with money from the Children’s Play Initiative, part of the Big Lottery Fund. “It’s the first of four new play facilities we’re completing over the next three years, thanks to a total grant of £261,146 from the Big Lottery Fund. “This particular project was granted £70,800.”

We are welcomed by Gill Holden and Peter Nowland, chair of Pendle Fairtrade group

In the evening we went to a Fair Trade Fashion and Food event at St Bartholomew’s in Colne.

Models at the Fairtrade Fashion Show

Here’s what I said;
Welcome to Pendle's second Fairtrade Food and Fashion Show to celebrate national Fairtrade Fortnight.
Back in 2003 Pendle was the first Fairtrade Borough in the UK and we are very proud to be continuing to support Fairtrade. As Mayor I have also supported Fairtrade by visiting shops that sell the products and by having fair-trade products available at some of our events. Only last night for instance, we celebrated the first Pendle Business Awards and gave out fair-trade chocolate to all of the 250 guests.
This event has been organised by a range of organisations including; Ocarina,Fair Necessities, the Co-op Group, Open Door, St Bartholomew's,Pendleside Hospice and Pendle Borough Council
All proceeds go to Pendleside Hospice. Last year we raised over £700 from the event and hope to improve on that this evening. We hope you enjoy the Fairtrade Food & Fashion Show

The Coop are big supporters of Fairtrade goods and provided over £500 for the food at the event

Friday 29 February (Leap Year)
Lambs are in the field next to the house, the curlews are back and the primroses are pushing through, so spring is well and truly on its way.

We are welcomed by the School Council

After a morning business meeting in Accrington I had to get back home to prepare for our visit to Higham St John’s Primary School. Dressed in full civic regalia, including the gown and chains, we were met by the members of the school council.

I show Pendle's civic robes and regalia to the children

After photographs, we were taken into the library for a biscuit and a glass of orange. We had a chat with them about what they did at the school, whilst the rest of the school were assembling in the hall.

I answer more tricky questions from the School Council

The Mayoress and I then went into the hall to answer some really good questions from the children. Afterwards we showed them the rest of the civic chains and allowed them to try on the Mayor’s cocked hat and have a go with the Mace (which is supposed to be to defend me!). It was a very enjoyable visit and when we left we were waived off by the children.
A much needed night in to get my feet up and watch Leeds beat Melbourne in the Rugby League world team cup. I have also got a rare weekend off so I should be able to catch up on all the things that get left when I am busy.