This week we visit Pendle Hospital, open Blakey Hall, see Father Christmas, help regenerating Nelson centre and visit Barrowford and Colne shops

Monday 17 December
At 10.30 we arrived at Pendle Community Hospital in Nelson for a Christmas visit. We were met by the Matron who showed around all of the wards where we were able to chat to many of the patients.

The Matron introduces us to one of the patients at Pendle Community Hospital

The hospital is now used for recuperation for the Blackburn, Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle areas.
From there we went to the 17th century Blakey Hall Farm for the opening of their barn conversion into high quality tourist accommodation. Rachel & Stephen showed us around their excellent bed and breakfast and self-catering facilities.

We cut the ribbon at Blakey Hall Farm - with a sharp pair of scissors!

Mr & Mrs. Boothman has successfully managed to diversify from traditional farming into tourism. The tourism team from Pendle Council were all there to join with me when I cut the ribbon and congratulated them on the 4 double bedrooms addition to over night stay accommodation in Pendle.
Afterwards we went to Townhouse School Christmas party to hand out presents to all of the children.

We meet the Christmas Fairy and Father Christmas with the children

Whist there we managed to meet Father Christmas and the Christmas Fairy in their colourful grotto.

Tuesday 18 December
We were at Hibson Road in Nelson at 11.00am for the Groundbreaking ceremony for the start of new Transport Interchange.

We help to get Nelson Transport Interchange started

By next year this will provide a new high quality bus station, linked to the existing train station with taxi ranks to bring another part of Nelson regeneration.

Now I'm not really knocking down those buildings

One of the demolition workers gave us some old galley proofs from the Free Press, which they had found whilst knocking the old shops down. This is a long forgotten local newspaper, which must have had its office here in 1897.

I show Peter, the local reporter, the 1897 Newspaper galley proofs

After a few press photos we went back to the Town Hall. At 1pm we went to be photographed at the start of work on the old Water Board offices on Every Street. Renovation work is starting on these premises to provide new business start up offices.

The new business start up hub gets underway

This site is part of the Whitefield regeneration area and will form a part of exciting plans for this part of Nelson. I was interviewed by the Pendle Movie Makers who record for posterity significant events in Pendle’s history. They plan to put a film together sometime in the future.

I interview Kelly our Economic Development officer for Pendle Movie Makers

I followed this with a meeting with our Economic Development team on our updated plans for a business awards evening. The event seems to be coming together well and we plan to hold it at the Fence Gate Inn on Wednesday 27th February.

Wednesday 19 December
At 1pm I went to the start of site work for the new ACE centre, which will be built on Russell Street/Cross Street in Nelson.

Another new build in Nelson - the ACE centre

This significant new creative new building will be an Arts and Community facility to replace the old Civic and Silverman Halls. Local people can now see that there is more regeneration going on in Nelson town centre than there has been for many years.
Between 2pm and 3pm I invited all of Pendle’s staff to drop in to my Parlour for a Christmas Drink. I welcomed many members of staff that I have known for many years and some new faces.
In the evening I attended Barnoldswick Town Council where I remained as vice-chair as we appointed Coun. Bell to be the chair for the remaining of the year to replace the chairman who had resigned.

Thursday 20 December
In the morning we held our monthly board meeting at Printoff Graphic Arts Ltd where I am chairman. We also presented all of our staff with a bottle of Champagne.


Friday 21 December
We completed our tour of the Borough’s shopping towns by visiting Barrowford and Colne

Beeches butchers show off their finest sausages

to encourage more local people to support our many excellent small local shops.

Edmondon's shop was full of gift ideas

Starting in Barrowford we visited Chris at Village Fayre, and then to Beech's Butchers, across the road to Edmondson Interiors and then we popped in to Humberstone’s Jewellers

Humberstones had an unusual Christmas tree

where we were shown round their handsome shop before having a welcome cup of coffee.

A White Room had lots of different modern furniture

We the drove up to Colne and started our visit at A White Room, which is a very trendy interior design shop, run by Kelly & David Riley.

The Butcher in the Market hall showed me his flying pig

Our next call was at Ocarina, which sells Fairtrade products, then across the road to Flowers of Distinction, followed by a visit to Colne Book Shop

I could have browsed in Colne book shop all day

where I bought a few books including A plain cookery book for the working classes, first published in1852. Recipes include how to make sick-diet jelly and how to make gruel!

A sherry and mince pie in the Market hall kept us going

We then called in to Colne Market Hall and met the hall keeper Ian Varley who showed us around.

Shaws greengrocers was filled to bursting with vegetables for Christmas Dinner

We met with a lot of the stallholders, the Christmas band and with Father Christmas.

We meet Stuart - visiting from Scotland

Whilst in there we saw Stuart Swain who used to work with me several years ago, but who has lived in Scotland since retiring.

Father Christmas takes a short break from seeing the children of Colne

Our final call was at Graham's Poultry, - Graham is the Chair of the Colne Town Centre Forum.

Graham is kept busy at Christmas

Whilst in Colne we picked up the new Events Guide for the Muni. The guide publicises our Meet Buzz Hawkins and the Bradshaws, which is on Friday 8th February at the Muni. Tickets only £10.
From there we went to Printoff’s works Christmas party in the afternoon.
We now do not have any Mayoral events to attend until the week commencing January 7th so there will be a gap of a couple of weeks on my blog. So - best wishes for a great New Year.

This week we awarded a Big Idea, enjoyed Roughlee's Christmas lunch, visited Earby, met Pendle's past Mayors at Pat's Do and sung at Light up a Life.

Monday 10 December
Another very busy week coming up. And to start it off I had to get to the Town Hall in Nelson by 9.30am to present the Big Idea Awards.
Ideas UK has given Pendle Council a silver award for its staff Big Ideas suggestion scheme. The scheme was launched in 2003 to give Pendle Council staff a way to make suggestions about how to improve services for customers, save money and be more environmentally friendly. The Big Idea, as the suggestion scheme is known, picked up a silver award at Ideas UK's national conference last month.

I congratulate staff on winning the award for their Big Ideas

This is wonderful recognition for Pendle Council’s Big Idea scheme. It's the first time we've put our suggestion scheme forward for accreditation, and we're really pleased to have done so well. Ideas UK were very impressed with the Big Idea, so much so that we were only 2% away from getting the gold accreditation award. Well done to all the Council staff that work on the Big Idea, and those people who've put forward their suggestions.
One of the winners was Timebank, which lets Council staff donate unwanted holidays and flexitime to a central system for people to use when they have to take extra time off work in exceptional circumstances.

Well done for winning with the Time Bank

The idea has already helped people who have had to take care of children while their partners are ill or recovering from medical treatment, and people dealing with extreme cases of bereavement.
In the evening I attended the Standards Committee where a councillor who had had a complaint filed against was cleared of the allegation.

Tuesday 11 December
We drove over to Roughlee Parish Council for their annual Christmas Party. The council office is in what used to be the shop at Roughlee pleasure gardens. When I was still in short pants I used to buy my fishing net there when my mum and dad took me on a day out in summer. We got there on the Burnley, Colne & Nelson single decker bus that used to huff and puff over the hills so much so that sometime you could have walked faster.

Rouglee'ers get ready for their Christmas Lunch

The Christmas lunch was turkey again but I managed it, together with some Christmas pudding and a mince pie. The entertainment was the whole of the 27 children of Roughlee School who came to sing Christmas songs for us. They were very well received, as were the Trawden Ladies Choir, which followed them. In between we managed to get round to see all of the people from Roughlee who were enjoying the party.

Trawden Ladies Choir entertain

I didn’t need any tea as I got ready to go to the Burnley & Pendle NSPCC Christmas Concert at Towneley Hall in Burnley. We met the Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley in the magnificent entrance hall. Towneley Hall is an absolute gem, which is run by Burnley Council. I also used to go there a child to stare at the stuffed bear and if we were lucky get shown the “dungeons” – which I now find is a wine cellar. The Christmas Concert by the South Pennine singers had me guessing where they came from. I guessed Rochdale but got it completely wrong as they came from Burnley. They were very good and we had front row seat to enjoy their wonderful songs. The concert was followed by an impressively large buffet. As I was still full up from lunchtime, I got away with a few small sandwiches.

Wednesday 12 December
At 9am I was at a meeting of West Craven Together in the new Rainhall Centre, Barnoldswick to consider a grant application. From there I went into Nelson Town Hall for a meeting with our Communications Manager regarding the P.R. for the new Pendle Business Awards that we are planning to stage early in the New Year. I then changed into my role as Chair of Licensing and drove up to Colne’s Exchange Pub for a press photograph launching a new Taxi scheme. This will enable taxi drivers, if they decide to, to ask for the fair before allowing customers into their taxis.

Earby lights up

Back home for a quick change and then on to Earby to meet up with their Parish Chairman.

Helping the Parish Council to judge the Best Dressed Earby Shop Competition

We are there to help the Parish Council judge their best-dressed shop competition and also to continue with our Christmas shopping throughout Pendle.

Seasonal cakes in an Earby confectioners

It was an enjoyable event even if the day was very cold.

I'll have some of those sausages that you recommend

The shops had all made a special effort for Christmas and I thought that Earby shopping centre was looking its best.

The flower shop had a great display

We went back to the Parish offices to add up the scores and have a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Whilst there, Morris, a Pendle & Earby councillor, showed me their innovative wood chip boiler.

Morris shows me the Earby Parish's environmental wood chip boiler

Thursday 13 December
I went into the Town Hall for 10.30 for a meeting with officers to consider what will happen with administration of the Mayoralty, with Pat Hudson the Mayors Secretary leaving. Afterwards I went into my business for a meeting with Tom my non-executive director.

At 5.00 I was back at the Town Hall for Pat’s leaving party. We had invited all of the past Mayor’s of Pendle, who were still with us, to join us. Pat had worked for over 22 years at Pendle, so she had known 22 Mayors.

The past and present Mayors of Pendle congratulate Pat on looking after 22 of them

Ten Mayors attended and we all presented Pat with flowers and presents together with a photomontage of all of the Mayors that she had worked with. At 7pm I chaired the full Council meeting in my red robes and civic chain. This was the last meeting of the Council before Christmas and it has become traditional to have drinks in the members room afterwards. I got home by about 9.30pm.

Friday 14 December
We continued promoting Christmas shopping in local shops and this time we were in my hometown of Barnoldswick. The shops all looked inviting and we got to as many as we could.

Stephen, the Barlick Butcher is busy at Christmas

The House of Flowers - flower Shop looked really festive

Decisions Decisions has lots of Christmas gift ideas

The recently refurbished Post Office sells me some stamps for my cards

Sunday 16 December
IN the afternoon we went Pendleside Hospice in Reedley for their Light up a Life outdoor carol service.

Light up a Life Carol Service is well attended

Muriel and the hard working team at the Hospice greet us

It was absolutely freezing and although I had my coat on the cold went straight through me. Muriel Jobling who has been the driving force for the Hospice started the service.

The piper and the Salvation Army Band must have been even colder than I was

We sung well know carols accompanied by the Salvation Army band played and a kilted bagpiper played a lament.

It was absolutely freezing by this time

When it was my turn to say a few words I was so cold that my legs were shaking.

I get to meet the Hospice's resident sheep dog

Afterwards we were able to warm up inside with a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake.

This week we get far too much turkey dinner, listen to Lord Street band, join the Schools Festival carol service and hold a Meet the Mayor session

Monday 3 December
We have a very busy week coming up. It starts with me getting into the Town Hall for a 9.30am meeting about the Discover Pendle building now springing up on the new Boundary Mill site at the end of the M65. Discover Pendle, will spotlight everything that we have to offer in Pendle including tourism, events, performances and business. This will vastly increase the profile of Pendle to the millions of visitors who will come to Boundary Mill. It is due to open in spring of next year.
At 11.00 I get “chained up” to go up to Colne’s Muni for the Mayors Bit of a Do. This is the senior citizens Christmas Lunch and is on every day this week.

The Mayor's Bit of A Do at Colne Muni

Five turkey dinners are too much for anyone, so I spit the week with Shelagh the Deputy Mayor. I do Mon. Wed. Fri. and Shelagh will do Tues. Thurs. I said a few words to everyone attending and then got served with Turkey, stuffing, mashed and roast potatoes, sausage and gravy. Followed by Christmas pudding and a cup of coffee. We then take the opportunity to talk to as many of the people enjoying the lunch as possible. Most are interested in my chain of office, which I tell them, is the old Colne council civic chain. It is over 110 year old and weighs around 5lbs. The bottom part of the chain was added around 1974 when Pendle Council was formed from the Councils of; Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Barrowford, Earby, Barnoldswick, Trawden and parts of Burnley Rural Councils.

We get to chat to the many people attending

We were all entertained by Lord Street Primary School Wind Band with children from 8-11 playing Christmas music. Their Year 3 school choir of 8 year olds supported the band with enthusiastic singing. They were fantastic and everyone told me how much they enjoyed them. Besides Lord Street primary there was also The Magic of Christmas show with Harold Hogarth and friends to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
When I got home I didn’t need any tea.

Tuesday 4 December
I received my copy of Pendle News which is our Council newspaper distributed free across the Borough. Included in it are the many new buildings coming to Nelson including the impressive Number One Market Street and the new transport interchange. I also received a very nice thank you letter from Nelson & Colne College’s students who visited the Town Hall recently.
I spent most of the day catching up again. And in the evening I attended Pendle Council’s West Craven area Committee at Earby.
We had lots of planning issues to decide and one of them was whether to agree to a wind turbine at Far New Field Edge Farm underneath Weets Hill. Several speakers told us about the fantastic 360-degree views from the top of Weets and how seeing the wind turbine would alter that. I said that if it was a choice of more wind turbines or new nuclear power stations I would go for wind power. But the views from Weets are up there with the best that I have seen anywhere in the World so I voted against the application. However when it came to the vote the Committee was split 50/50 on the application but the Chair came down on the side of approval, as it was a much-reduced size from the previous plan.


Wednesday 5 December
It was my second turkey dinner this week as went along the Mayor's Bit of a Do in Colne.

This was only my second turkey dinner this week

It is big logistical exercise to make sure that hundreds of the hot dinners get to our Christmas party guest’s tables at the right time. The senior citizens all complimented us on the excellent food, which is put on by Pendle Leisure Trust. Lord Street Primary School Band and Choir were again well received by everyone.
I had also to sort out the Mayors Christmas Cards which we send all over the world as well as locally.
Back to Nelson Town Hall at 5pm for the Member Development Group meeting where we look at the training and development issues for councillors. Pat Hudson who has managed this role for many years is retiring on Friday. I congratulated Pat on her efforts.
After this meeting Pat changed roll to Mayor’s Secretary to go with me to Christ Church, just round the corner, from the Town hall for The Pendle Schools Festival Annual Carol Service. Schools from all over Pendle joined together to sing Christmas Carols and they all also presented me with children’s presents to distribute. I thoroughly enjoyed it and afterwards I chatted to some of the parents and their children.


Thursday 6 December
In the afternoon we went along to The Burnley & District Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted for their Christmas party. It was held at the Carter’s and Motorman’s Club in Nelson.

Meeting with party goers at their Christmas Party

The club is known locally as the Fast and Slow. Mrs Cooney who was a Mayor in Burnley in the 1990’s met us. The party was excellent with everyone enjoying themselves. The act that they had on was Pauline a Shirley Bassey type singer who was great.

Pauline sounded something like Shirley Bassey but from Burnley

Back home for a quick change before going back to Colne Hippodrome for Park High Scholl’s KS4 Presentation Evening. The speaker was their old head teacher who obviously new the students well and was proud of the school.

Friday 7 December
Back to the Mayor’s Bit of a Do for my last turkey dinner (ever?) I told everyone that as I had had now had turkey 3 times this week I certainly wouldn’t be ordering a turkey for Christmas at home. As this was the last day of the “Do’s” I went on stage to compliment Lord Street School for their fantastic Band and excellent Choir, it had certainly kept everyone entertained this week and got them in the Christmas spirit. I also congratulated their teachers, staff and parents.

The Lord Street Wind Band and Year 3 singers entertain us

I also thanked West Street School Colne who had sung on Tuesday and Thursday when the Deputy Mayor had attended. I then went into the Lesser Muni Hall to congratulate the catering staff for all of their hard work and told them that everyone that I had chatted with had really enjoyed the meal.
In the evening I attended a special meeting of Barnoldswick Town Council and as vice-chairman had to chair it as the Chairman has resigned.


Saturday 7 December
Into the Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick by 10.00am for my Meet the Mayor session. I had a steady stream of local people coming to see me about issues that concerned them. At lunchtime we drove over to Nelson but called in at Keith Melling’s shop in Fence to pick up some more Christmas cards.

I collect a few more Christmas cards from Keith Mellin's shop in Fence

Keith is a well know local artist and we have got this year’s Mayor Christmas cards from him. From there into Nelson centre to collect the Mayoress who had been helping with the Mayor’s charity appeal tombola stall at Pendle Rise. We should have then been attending a Christmas fair in Nelson but found out that it had been cancelled.

The Park keeper shows me Boris the spider's home

As we didn’t have an event to attend this evening I was able to watch on TV Burnley FC put on a great show and Burnley beat Wolves 3-2 away from home. I don’t often get time to watch footy on the box but I am glad that I managed this one, as it was a really entertaining match.

Sunday 8 December
Today we went to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mrs Evelyn Lightbrown at Oakfield House Care Centre in Nelson.

We drop in on Mrs Lightbrown's 100th birthday