This week we welcome Amir Khan, visit Wycoller, Blacko, the Fence Gate, Barnoldswick History Society and go on the Colne to Skipton railway

Monday 22 October
In the morning I chaired the board meeting at Printoff Graphic Arts Ltd, which is my company in Nelson. We specialise in educational marketing for the whole of Britain and now we are starting to get orders via the internet from Europe and Africa. We have decided to a significant investment in 2 digital presses, which will mainly run our planner and school diary lines.
A rare evening off, so it was time to stoke up the wood burner, which gives off a great overall heat to my home. It soon gets so hot that I have to open a few doors to let the heat move around the house. I have stock piled wood through out the summer and hope that there is enough to see me through the winter. I particularly like to burn Ash, and yes, it is true: even unseasoned Ash will give a good fire. Ash wood produces excellent heat, a nice flame and it lasts reasonably well. An old rhyme says: "Ash, mature or green, makes a fire fit for a Queen."


Tuesday 23 October
In the afternoon we continued on our reverse trek of the wonderful Pendle Way.

More long distance views of the wonderful Pendle countryside

This week we went from Coldwell Activity Centre to the Laneshaw Bridge - about 8 miles. This section of the walk I think is one of the best with many views of Pendle and the Yorkshire Dales.

The long and distant road

Setting off under the lee of Boulsworth Hill (our second largest in Pendle), we take the old track through to the extremely pretty village of Wycoller. Interesting on the approach to the village there is an old road, which I doubt that any vehicle could have ever get through, but it has a road sign sticking out of the grass!

You don't expect to see a road sign in a field. Is it no low flying motorbikes?

Unfortunately the café was closed so we had to continue on to meet our bus waiting for us outside the Emmott Arms at Laneshaw Bridge. The day was sunny again! This means that we have now done 13 walks mainly on Tuesday and had rain on one of them. So the summer must have only been on Tuesdays this year.

In the evening I was invited to Barnoldswick History Society Annual AGM and dinner at the White Bull at Gisburn.

With members of the Barnoldswick History Society.

The meal was excellent and afterwards, as there is no such thing as fee lunch I had to give a speech. As the first Mayor to come from Barnoldswick for 20 years it was a privilege to be there. I gave a talk on my home, Hollins.

This is what I said;

I moved to Barnoldswick in 1998, to Hollins Farm in both Brogden and Bracewell; the farm's in one, the barn in other.

I am only the present custodian on Hollins. And I am well aware of the long history of the farm and surrounding land. The Romans or more probably Germans were on the Brogden lane, Roman Road, walking from Ribchester to Ilkley. So they may have had a look up. The Vikings were farmers after they finished sacking and pillaging so they probably called round. And the Cistercian’s were probably only over the hill so they must have been round too.

The surround land is called the Humps and Hollows or Humpty Dumpty’s – for 1000 of Barlickers it was there weekend walks for decades. Actually it is limestone quarries and spoil heaps and there are the sites of 2 Lime Kilns. Hollins is right on the line where the rock changes from Sandstone to Limestone, which I assume probably means that we were under water after the last ice age. It has had no fertilising (apart from animals) so we have many wild flowers including Orchids. The hedgerows also have many species of trees, which indicates that they have been there many hundreds of years.

Now mostly dog walkers, horse riders and the Tuesday over 60’s walking club come up to Hollins. Electricity only came to Hollins in 1960’s. So still no gas, no post, no dustbins, no water (except water pipe from Dark Hill Well).

Whilst renovating barn we discovered alcoves for oil lamps. And massive Pitch Pine Queen Post Trusses (I think) it is probably late 19th century and holds up the barn roof. How did they get those great beams there? Even before I renovated it the buildings had obviously been rebuilt several times.

Research of census returns for Hollins shows that from 1841 – 1901 every 10 years a different family has lived there. As searching just for Hollins got nowhere, so I searched surrounding farms where families had lived there for longer than the census 10-year period.

For instance; the 1891 census shows; Elizabeth Rushton 45, (widow), 11 sons and daughters ranging from 28 to 3. Three of them ran the farm whilst 4 were weavers, 4 at school + Sarah Brown (73), Widow of independent means. So 13 people living there. Hollins is listed in Parish Records in 1646. In 1753 John Harrison of Hollins paid 10 shillings land tax. (Tithes).

Interestingly Hollins has been in Yorkshire for most of its life. In Brogden with Admergill, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The wonderful views from Hollins are of the Yorkshire Dales, Malham Cove, Ingleborough/Whernside, Penyhgent are fortunately still there. But now since 1974 Hollins is in Pendle, just into Lancashire.

I am fortunate to be the first Mayor to have come from Brogden and Bracewell but of course 20 years ago, Doris Riding was the well-loved previous Mayor who came from Barlick. I take every opportunity to tell people about our friendly Town, its many exciting events, and its wonderful countryside. We invite people to come and visit us including for our annual Beating the Bounds. Where each year we perambulate the 9 or so miles of the boundaries around Barnoldswick. This year in September we had 60 walkers join us from all over the country. They were all given willow wands with which to beat the boundary stones. And at lunchtime in our marquee at Letcliffe Park they all enjoyed a rustic repast whilst listening to local songs sung by Heather Sheldrake and friends. They all enjoyed it and received a commemorative medal to shown that they had beaten the bounds. So come and join us next year.

Wednesday 24 October
A check up at the dentist in the morning but fortunately everything was OK.
In the evening, I continued with my visits to all of the 17 Town and Parish Councils in Pendle.
We have had to borrow a car for Mayoral visits, as ours had had to go in for repairs after a run in with some cows. The loan car is an Audi A8 with lots of gadgets including TV! Although as I can’t stand most daytime or come to that evening TV, we didn’t make much use it.
Tonight’s visit was the turn of Blacko Parish Council. I change the script of what I say to fit in local issues, so I used the opportunity to once again thank them for their magnificent efforts in winning the Best Kept Village competition.

Thursday 25 October
In the afternoon we judged the schools painting competition. There were lots of entries and it was very hard to choose the winners.

One of the winners of the schools painting competition

After tea and before the full Council Meeting in the evening I just had time to nip into the new Number One Market Street building. This building is the start of the re-birth of Nelson and is truly iconic. The space inside is like a tardis and there is more than enough room for the additional 300 jobs that will be located there. The design is excellent and I am sure that Pendle people will be as proud as I am of the new building.
At 7pm I chaired the Council Meeting. This is where all of the 49 pendle councillors come together every couple of months or so and agree the policies of the Council. It is not an easy meeting for me to chair, as I have to be dressed in my red robes and chains (which weigh about 5 lbs.) so it is very warm. I can also only perch on the Mayor’s chair, as it must have been made for Mayors that were much, much bigger than my 10 stone 4 lbs frame. The rules of debate have to be followed so when the councillors speak a traffic light system starts on green as they are getting towards the end of their allotted time it changes to orange and when they overrun to red. Unfortunately tonight the committee clerk’s head got in the way of the lights. So I could only tell if the speaker had run over time when the clerk’s head lit up red!

Friday 26 October
I went along to the Fence Gate Restaurant in the evening for a special dinner to celebrate the opening of Number One Market Street. The food was again excellent from this award-winning establishment. Attending the dinner were the leaders of Pendle and surrounding councils and the chief executive of Liberata. They have provided the impressive new building at no cost to the community charge payer of Pendle.

Brian - the Assistant Chief Executive of Pendle and I go on Radio Lancashire

Saturday 27 October
It’s Nelson Day today! So I had to be up early to get into Nelson for the celebrity opening of Number One market Street. I had decided to wear the beautiful old Nelson Chains of office for that extra special day in Nelson’s history.

I welcome everyone to Nelson day!

Incidentally, they are the civic chains with a picture of the old sewage works on them! As Mayors of Nelson in the past were obviously proud of what they had achieved, so am I with the opening of the really impressive Number One Market Street.

These kids looked like they were all enjoying the day

It’s a building that everyone in Nelson and Pendle can be proud of.

I get to meet Amir Khan, although his "bodyguard" doesn't look happy!

Amir Khan the boxing sensation had come along to open Number One Market Street and was given a rousing reception by the many people that had come along to see him.

10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1... Switch On!

I had a short slot on Radio Lancashire where they announced me as the Mayor of Nelson so I had to put them right as the Mayor of Pendle. Mayors from other boroughs had come to join with the crowds of people to help us in the celebrations, so it was a great day for Nelson and for Pendle.

I announce the school winners for them to come on stage and receive their cheques

My mum would have been 100 this week. We had a family meal similar to what mum would have made for us, but cooked by the younger ones. We finished off with a bonfire and fireworks. The young ones obviously don’t know how to wash up, so I had to get the dishwasher running non-stop for most of Sunday.

Sunday 28 October
We had been invited to go on a rail journey called the missing link. This is the old Colne to Skipton Rail line, which was ripped up by Dr. Beeching in the 1960’s.

SELRAP greet the Mayors at Colne Station

SELRAP, the organising campaigners fighting for the re-opening of the line were running their second trip to Skipton.

The next train to Skipton is the 9.58 - going via Blackburn, Clitheroe and Settle Junction

Unfortunately to get there now we have to go the other way from Colne, via Burnley and Accrington to Blackburn. From there the train driver goes to the other end of the train to take it up past Clitheroe to Settle junction. Here he changes back again to take the train south to Skipton. I spent most of the time walking about on the train to meet as many people as possible.

We're off on a trip to Skipton with the Mayor and Consort of Skipton

The Mayor of Skipton Town Council, Councillor Manley and her husband, who is her consort, accompanied us. We both gave a short speech on Skipton Station to celebrate the day.

A short speech when we reached Skipton Station

The Mayor of Skipton treated us to lunch at Herriot’s Hotel across the road from Skipton station. This used to be the old Midland Hotel, which would have been built by the Midland Railway Company. We chatted over lunch and said that we should look at getting better links between Skipton, Barnoldswick & Clitheroe Town Councils. We didn't have time to go on the return trip which went via Bradford, so we waved goodbye to the train as it left on its homeword journey - the long way. Unfortunately as I was waving them off a lady rushed up to ask why I wasn't on it and that she had missed the train.

This what I said at Skipton Station;

Thank you for inviting me to join you today on this special and historic rail excursion. I really enjoyed our journey from Colne to Skipton, to see what we have been missing for over 40 year.

Pendle is the hidden gem of the North West and we are actively looking to increase Tourism to this wonderful part of the country. The opening of the line will also strengthen the Skipton links with West Craven and Pendle.

So, with the opening of the Colne to Skipton line lots and lots more visitors could come to Pendle’s to see our many places of interest including absolutely stunning countryside and great shopping opportunities.

It is also essential to get the Missing Link from Colne to Skipton re-instated not only to get access to the excellent rail links from Skipton. It will enable Pendle people to easily get trains to London and the rest of the country. And we need to ensure that the Rosegrove to Colne section of the East Lancs. Line and its link to Preston are also secured. We should also look forward to easier rail access to Manchester with the re-opening of the Todmorden Curve.

I hope that in the not too distant future to be travelling as passenger when the Missing Link Colne to Skipton rail line is reopened. So I hope that you all enjoy the day and help SELRAP to achieve the aim of reopening this historic line.

This week we visit Colne, Kelbrook, Barrowford, walk the Pendle Way, inspect St John Ambulance and see Manchester Town Hall

Monday 15 October
The Mayoress was off on holiday in Lisbon this week. In the evening I went to Colne in Bloom - Green Fingers competition at the Municipal Hall in Colne. Some of the people attending told me about how they grew things in their back yards and it was very impressive. I met a man from the Italian Restaurant who was growing tomatoes, peppers, grapes and loads of other vegetables in his little patch. I know that home grown veg. tastes the best. I encouraged everyone to continue to brighten up there own bit of Colne with their flowers and vegetables.

Tuesday 16 October
We walked the 4th leg of our anti-clockwise route of the wonderful Pendle Way.

Walking down to Walverden Reservoir

This took us from Brierfield to Coldwell Activity Centre, above Nelson. The day was again dry and we got some fine long distance views of Pendle Hill.

Very artistic! Walverden overflow.

We have been fortunate with the choice of Tuesday afternoons for our walks as it has been sunny or at least dry on most of our treks.

Outside Southfield Chapel where George Fox once preached

The walk takes us out of Brierfield and skirts the top end of Nelson before heading down to Walverden Reservoir.

Our intrepid explorers conquer Catlow Bottoms

We went over the stepping-stones at Catlow Bottom and then through the muddiest section of the walk before arriving at the Coldwell Centre. Unfortunately the café was closed so no cup of tea.

Arriving at the Coldwell Activity Centre

In the evening I continued with my quest to go around all of the 17 Town and parish councils in Pendle. This time it was Kelbrook Parish Council and we had to wait a little while to get in, as the alarm had been set off by mistake. Parish councils are the grass roots of local government and I am a great supporter of them. They don’t usually have much money but what they have, they spend for the good of their local community.

Wednesday 17 October
In the morning we had a meeting with the Pendle Youth Council representative. We are exploring ways of showing young people what happens in local government. We decided to do a sort of “speed dating” session where they can ask a councillor anything they wish for 3 minutes, before moving on to the next councillor. We also explored seeing if we could have a Youth Mayor. We are still at the talking stage but it looks positive.
In the afternoon I caught up on the latest plans for Nelson Town Centre. We need to get the high street back through Manchester Road/Colne Road but to do this we have to including lots of pedestrian safety features. The plan looks to be now almost complete after much toing and froing.
I then went in to the Pendle Business Finance Open Day. The Guardian Angels were there who support small businesses with free support from experienced mentors. I do this for several companies and help them in different ways. Sometimes it is just being at the end of the phone to help with issues that arise. As I have had my own business for over 30 years I have usually “been there and done it” so I can pass on my experience. We also met representatives from the Business Environment Association, North West Development Agency and Michelin.
I then rushed off to a meeting of the Communication Group at the Town Hall, which I chair.
Time for a quick change and then off to Barrowford Parish Council. At the question time after I had done my short run down of what is happening in Pendle, I got asked about some unusual stuff including public toilets. I did tell them that there were more of them in Pendle than Blackpool!

Thursday 18 October
I went along to St John Ambulance in Nelson for their Annual Inspection.

I immediately get treated for a broken leg

They started by treating me for a broken leg and soon had me bandaged up. After that I went around to inspect everyone including the cadets.

St John Ambulance Brigade prepare for inspection

Most of them had been in for many years and they told me how much they enjoy it. In my short speech I told them about the last time that I went to St John was about 50 years ago, when I was 13, as a member of a Boys Brigade first aid team. My job was to make the hot sweet tea and phone for the ambulance. As I hadn’t used a phone before, they are probably still waiting for ambulance.

President - Peter Dewhurst and I see that this patient looks to be critical!

Friday 19 October
An early set off to get to Manchester Town Hall for the North West in Bloom Awards.

Corridors of power

As we arrive a bit early we took the opportunity to have a quick look round including the Council Chamber. The same architect that built our Colne Town Hall built their Town Hall. Ours is very nice but not on the same scale of grandeur as Manchester. I got to meet the Lord Mayor of Manchester and I told him that we had had a short tour around and how impressed we were. He invited us back again to have a better look and we will take him up on that. From our conversations with staff and councillors their Town Hall is obviously well loved by the people that use it. At the Awards Colne in Bloom won a runner up prize for large Towns.

Winners! Shane and his mum collect the prize

In the Environmental Award (Schools), Sacred Heart School in Colne won and young Shane Pengelly went up to get the award.

A few of the Mayors Limos parked outside Manchester Town Hall

Saturday 20th October
I got my flu jab today and whilst there a shot for pneumonia which made my arm a bit sore. I used to get a regular dose of winter flu but the flu jab certainly worked for me last year.

Sunday 21st October

We went along to Barrowford Locks to set off the British Legion's sponsored walk to Burnley - about 9 miles to raise money for the Poppy Day appeal.

Army & Sea Cadets get ready to walk the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

On a bright and sunny day I gave a short speech to get them the Sea and Army cadets on their way. This stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool which runs through our area is very scenic and because Pendle Council have invested millions in towpath improvements the walking is easy too.

This week we visit Wycoller, a Llama, Pendle Community Network, an Art Exhibition, a Museum, the canal, walk the Pendle Way and have fish & chips

Monday 8 October
Today was the Mayors Tour of Pendle. At this event we invite all the Mayors of Lancashire, plus Craven, which is just over the boundary into Yorkshire to join us for a tour of Pendle. We met all the Mayors at Junction 12 Shopping outlet by the side of the M65. Here we gave them tea and toasted current teacake whilst showing our Pendle Witches DVD, to get them set up for the day. On then to the coach which took us through Nelson, Colne, Winewall, and Trawden to Wycoller.

Lancashire and Yorkshire Mayors see the remains of Wycoller Hall

Because the coach cannot get into Wycoller village we transferred to the community bus for the short trip down. In the Aisled Barn Visitor Centre we were met by Peter Short, one of the Countryside Wardens who gave us a run through the history of the beautiful village. Wycoller Country Park is one of the prettiest Country Parks in Lancashire and the area is famous for its association with the Brontè sisters who referred to many of the nearby landmarks in books such as "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre".

Thornton Hall Farm welcomes the "Chain Gang"

Back to the coach for a very pleasant drive through to Laneshawe Bridge and up to Back Lane Ends. The Pendle countryside is really stunning even when the weather is a bit cloudy. Remember the saying around here "If you can see Pendle it's about to rain, if you can't see it, it's already raining!"

The Llama eyes the Chain of Office to see if its edible

Everyone got long distance views up to the Yorkshire dales before we drove down into Earby and then up to Thornton Hall Farm.

Feeding the goats

Here we had a guided tour of the working farm with many surprises including Lamas and giant rabbits. Thornton Hall farm is an excellent vistor attraction and will encourage many more people to come and visit beautiful Pendle. We then had a guided walk round the paddocks to see the wide range of animals before getting back onto the coach to go for lunch.

A quick trip around the farm

Back then through Earby, Sough and Kelbrook. We had decided to go to Kelbrook Fisheries for fish and chips as a change from the more fancy stuff that we often get on Mayoral visits. But we didn’t tell the Mayors, instead we read out the sumptuous banquet for the Nelson Charter in 1890 implying that that was the menu.

You can't beat fish and chips! (with Peter, the Mayor of Burnley)

Only when we arrived at the chippy did we say it was fish & chips instead! From lunch we drove Greenberfield Locks to board the Marton Emporer narrow boat which took us on a leisurely cruise down the lovely Leeds & Liverpool canal to Foulridge.

Onto the Marton Emporer for a cruise on the Leeds & Liverpool

From there it was back on the bus for a scenic tour of all of the Pendle villages before driving to Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford. A cup of tea and a quick look around the museum was fitted in before the Mayors left to go back to their own boroughs. They all said that they had enjoyed the day and we had managed to get to almost every Town, Village and Hamlet in the Borough of Pendle. (I counted 28).

Tuesday 9 October
In the morning together with other ward councillors and a council officer we visited Gisburn Road School to discuss parking issues. We agreed to put forward plans for addition road lining to maybe help the problem.
In the afternoon we continued with our anti-clockwise Pendle way walk from Newchurch in Pendle to Brierfield, it was dry and sunny and it is surprising how the walk is so different when walking the other way.
I had a quick tea before going to the West Craven area Committee which was held at Kelbrook Village Hall. Our Area committee which takes decisions for all West Craven issues including planning, is the only one that moves around the area. All of the other Area Committees in Pendle stay at one base.

Wednesday 10 October
The IT team arrived at my home to set up the Mayor-on-Line video internet facility. I am piloting this for anyone to be able to speak to me face to face on Pendle issues. It is early days yet but the test run looked excellent.
After lunch I went along to the IT service area for an ‘official’ visit. We have now visited all of the Pendle service areas and seen lots that we wouldn’t normally have. We have also met lots of back room staff who very rarely see councillors. We seem to have been well received. I am for ever popping into to IT for one thing or another, so I am well known there and when on the Pendle Executive it was my area of responsibility.
After that we went along to Pendle Community Network for a visit and to meet their board.

Meeting with the Pendle Community Network board

I hadn’t been there before so they showed me the wide range of services that they cover. We are looking to do a Community Volunteers Awards evening with them during the year. This is to thank the many people who provide their time freely for the benefit of others. They often don’t get thanked, so this event is a chance to remedy this.

Thursday 11 October
In the afternoon we went along to the mayors Parlour to present the winners of the Cleaner, Greener, Safer competition with their prizes.

Cleaner, Greener, Safer prize winners

They received a chilli plant, a blueberry shrub, herbs and organic seeds. Over a cup of tea I chatted to the ladies about my chilli and courgette growing experience. They have back yards but as we have seen in a recent visit they are often very good places to grow lots of plants.

I chat with a group of artists from Burnley

In the early evening I went to see the pre-view of the Pendle's Open Arts Exhibition at Colne Municipal Hall.

A few words to launch the exhibition

I had a guide tour around the exhibition and thought that the quality of the photographs and paintings was excellent.

Friday 12 October
A morning visit to meet Mr Henry Nelson in his British in India Museum at Hendon Mill in Nelson.

Mr Henry Nelson welcomes me to the British in India Museum

Here I saw the wide ranging artefacts of India including many very interesting personal articles of people living there in the last 2 centuries. There was even the skin of a tiger shot over 100 years ago but I still cannot imagine what they got out of killing these magnificent animals.

Opening the Prince's Trust Team 28 project at Garden Gates, Barnoldswick

An afternoon visit to the Garden Gates project on Coates Estate in Barnoldswick for the Princes Trust team 28 project completion.

The hard working team 28.

They had cleared waste ground, sourced timber and soil and built several raised beds. This will enable disabled people to easily enjoy gardening. We were very impressed with the team and after cutting the ribbon we invited them to come and visit us at the Town Hall.

My letter to the Local papers:

I was very interested to read Geoff Crambie’s account of the banquet for Nelson’s Charter Day in 1890. He surmises that I would have enjoyed the gourmet food on offer. Looking at the menu I could have probably managed small portions of most of it except the stewed sweetbreads!
On Mayoral business last week, I ate out on 4 days, including home made potato pie, meat and potato pie, a chip butty, 2 tuna sandwiches, apple pie, trifle, and 7 cups of tea and coffee. So you can see that things have changed quite a bit since the 19th Century!
I said at the beginning of my year that I would do my best to keep my waist size the same throughout the year. My walking trips are helping with this, as are my efforts not to eat too much “Town Hall Food”.
I am also promoting Pendle’s 5 -a-day campaign and have been keeping a diary of what I eat and drink. So I can tell Geoff that last week I succeeded in consuming my daily 5 portions of fruit and vegetables and I urge everyone to try to do the same.
If anyone would like to see what I do as Mayor, including where I had the chip butty, you can catch up with my activities on my Mayors Blog at; www.mayorofpendle.blogspot.com
Regards,
Allan Buck, Mayor of Pendle, The Town Hall, Nelson

Saturday 13 October
During the morning I held a Meet the Mayor Surgery at Barrowford parish Council offices. Meanwhile the Mayoress held a Coffee Morning at the home of John & Judith David in Fence, to raise funds for the Mayoress’s Charities. Back in time to see England get beat at cricket, win at football and win big style at Rugby World Cup semi-final against France.

Sunday 14 October
Today we went to Stanley House at Mellor for the Best Kept Village in Lancashire Awards. Roughlee won the top award - champion village - well done! Blacko the best small village and Newchurch-in-Pendle the best hamlet. Barley was the runner up for best hamlet. So Pendle almost swept the board. Blacko, won the best sheltered accommodation (Hill View), the best war memorial and the best special feature (School allotments). Roughlee also won best caravan site again. Newchurch won best shop (Witches Galore). Barley also got a highly commended for the village hall, and Newchurch also a highly recommended for St Marys school. Pendle scooped the most awards out of the whole of Lancashire. So a fantastic achievements for our picturesque Pendle villages. Well done to all of you for your hard work. This will really help to put Pendle well and truly on the tourist map.

this week we visit Roughlee, Earby, Brierfield, a 90th and a 100th birthday, see Spikey, give out garden awards and see the Sealed Knot

Monday 1st October
The nights are starting to draw in now, so its time for the “switching on of the Aga ceremony”. As I do not have a gas supply and oil isn’t that easy to deliver, I have an electric Aga. It gives off a friendly warm glow to the kitchen and brightens up my day whenever I am in there. Incidentally I do not have a public water supply either, the house gets its water from Dark Hill well via a pipe under the fields. Neither do I get my refuse collected from home or my post delivered. But this farmhouse was originally built at the turn of the 17th century and the previous residents didn’t have many of the modern facilities either with electricity only arriving in the 1960’s.
This week I have agreed to keep a diary of everything that I eat or drink. To promote the 5-a-day (5 portions of fruit or vegetables per day), I am seeing if I actually achieve it. Surprisingly Mayors do not always eat too healthily. We are often presented with food that perhaps doesn’t include enough fruit & veg.

If I want to keep my waistline, this is the sort of food that I have to eat sparingly.

That's more like it! 5 a day keeps you healthy.

As we have had a cold snap I brought some of the geraniums in from outside. I did the same last year for a couple of them and they provided me with a colourful display in the conservatory.
In the evening I went along to Roughlee Parish Council. The council meeting room is where I would have bought a fishing net as a lad when we went to Roughlee Boating Lake in the 1950’s. I congratulated Roughlee on their winning the Best Kept Village in Lancashire competition and the caravan site on the edge of the village had also won the Best Kept award.


Tuesday 2nd October
Today was a special day for us as dressed in our full robes we took part in the Judges' Procession at the invitation of the Mayor of Preston Coun. Christine Abram.

The colourful Judges' procession in Preston.

The event was very colourful with Mayors from all of Lancashire together with the Lord Lieutenant, The High Sheriff, The High Court Judge and lots of other civic and legal representatives. One of the groups in green cloaks caught my interest and I had a chat with them to find out a bit more.

We process into the Crown Courts.

They were The Select Vestry who now has only a ceremonial roll but in days gone by they provided the first form of local government and were responsible for such things as drains and roads. After the procession and Judges’ Service at the Minster church of St John the Evangelist, we went back to the Crown Court. After a short ceremony there, we went through to the Town Hall for lunch.

In the evening I attended the Brierfield & Reedley Area Committee at Brierfield Town Hall. The town has much needed development starting soon and looks to be improving. I still have a soft spot for Brierfield as I represented them as councillor for Reedley ward for 12 years.

Her's what I said to them;
Thank you for allowing me to come along this evening to the Brierfield & Reedley Area Committee. I am calling at the 5 area committees and 17 Town & Parish councils in the Borough to show how they all play an important roll in Pendle.

I first got involved in the local community by joining the then Brierfield Neighbourhood Council back in 1973. I served on that council for over 10 years and was instrumental in changing it to the Brierfield Town Council. I was also a Pendle Reedley ward councillor for 12 years and have now been a Barnoldswick Coates ward councillor for over 5 years. I also serve on Barnoldswick Town Council as its Vice Chairman so I have some understanding how Town & Parish councils operate. I live in both Brogden and Bracewell - as the boundary goes through the middle of my property.

I believe that Pendle is a great place to live in, and we are fortunate to have many attractive villages, wonderful countryside, great country pubs and the Leeds & Liverpool canal. So we are also actively promoting tourism to bring more people into our Borough. With Boundary Mill already attracting millions of visitors, we are to open a Pendle visitor centre on their new site to show them our many and varied attractions. The purchase by Pendle of the Earby Youth Hostel also showed our commitment to move forward on Tourism. We also have lots of going on including much needed housing regeneration in most of our larger towns.

I feel that we are very good at putting on big Festivals in Pendle and lots have taken place, such as the Walking Festival, the Cycling Festival, Rhythm & Blues Festival, the Riding Festival, the Canal Festival and not forgetting The Festival of Flight with its hot air balloons. They have all been very successful and have brought many visitors into Pendle.

There are and continuing significant investments in the boroughs Parks. We have also been successful in our Parks for People grant bid, which is set to bring even more investment to our parks. I also know that Pendle residents welcome the many events such as bat watch and fun days that are put on by our excellent young park keepers.

Here are a few of the other things, which I have done recently, and what I shall be doing in the coming weeks;

I shall continue to open up Nelson Town Hall and encourage people to visit. I shall also be holding Meet the Mayor Surgeries throughout the Borough. I now have a Mayors Blog www.mayorofpendle.blogspot.com
and a Mayor on line – video conferencing is shortly due to go on line.

Sometimes Mayors do not eat too healthily, so I am promoting 5-a-day, this week and keeping a diary of my diet. I have made a resolution to keep my waist size the same throughout this year.

In recent months I have been leading a group of walkers around The Pendle Way, a route of around 45 miles that covers all parts of the Borough. After completing it they had enjoyed it so much that I suggested that we now do it anti-clockwise, the other way. So I invite you all to come and join with me to see our wonderful countryside, our many spectacular Pendle views and to keep fit.

We also recently walked the Leeds & Liverpool Canal throughout the borough from Reedley to the Craven boundary. 12.9 miles, 28,388 footsteps. With new marinas being planned at Barden Mill and Lower Park we look set to welcome many more boaters to see our wonderful scenery. And local businesses should benefit from the increase in tourism.

You may have seen the recent picture in the paper of me in my suit and chains on top of Pendle Hill. No, we didn’t do it by helicopter. We did in fact get to the top of all three of our 3 big hills, Pendle, Weets and Boulsworth to help publicise our spectacular countryside to visitors. After the photo appeared in the paper, a parish councillor thought that the trig point badly needed a new coat of white paint, so he went up with his paint pot and did it. So last week when we went up Pendle again as part of the Pendle way walk I donned the chains to do a before and after shot of the Trig Point.

Around Christmas I shall be visiting all of the town centre shopping facilities throughout the borough. So I hope that I will meet you shopping in our local shops in our towns.

On behalf of Pendle Council I wish to thank the members of the Brierfield & Reedley Area Committee for your hard work and the dedication to your community.


Wednesday 3rd October
At lunchtime we went to Earby for Edith Wormwell’s 90th Birthday lunch.

An enjoyable lunch with Edith and friends.

Edith is 90 on Monday 8th and this lunch for her friends at Mount Zion was well attended and very enjoyable. We had an excellent meat and potato pie followed by trifle.
Then on to Barnoldswick for Violet Brown’s 100th Birthday.

Violet looks at her 100th birthday cards.

I read out a card from the Queen to Mrs Brown where she congratulated her on reaching 100. Other cards were from her many friends and relatives, together with ours. We also presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
From there we went to Colne Market Hall to help promote the 5-a-day campaign.

A rather fat sunbathing potato?

They had a fruit juggler and bagpiper to get everyone’s attention, as we handed out vegetable strips and fruit to passers by.

Encouraging passer by in Colne to eat their 5-a-day.

In the evening I went along again to Laneshaw Bridge Parish Council as part of my tour.

Thursday 4th October
At midday we presented prizes in the Housing Pendle, Garden competition.

Congratulations to the Garden winners.

Over 6000 gardens from estates throughout Pendle were judged and lots of awards presented. This encourages everyone to take a pride in their own garden and gives everyone a sense of well being.

Pictures of some the excellent gardens.

We had a quick buffet lunch and a chat with some of the winners.
I then went on to Craven Sports Centre for the Market Town Initiative presentation to West Craven Together.

Gym users see the award.

This has provided special facilities in the gym for disabled people to be able to use it more easily.
We went along to Colne Muni in the evening to see an audience with Dave Spikey.

Dave and I have a quick chat.

Before the performance we called into to have a quick word with him. We have met Dave a few times before, as he is a friend of our M.D. at work, Brian.

Friday 5th October
The Mayor's Tour of Pendle is next week so we had a run through of the route. As Neil the attendant used to be a bus driver he was invaluable in assessing if a coach would get through on Monday
We called at Junction 12 Outlet in Brierfield where we will start from, Wycoller village and Thornton Hall Country Farm, which are some of the other stops. We called into lunch for a chip-butty at Kelbrook Fisheries and met the young manager who was very busy but still managed to have a quick chat.
Back then to the Town Hall for a councillors and officers meeting and then I had to rush off for a tea time meeting of West Craven Together at the Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick.

Saturday 6th October

Mid morning we went to the Earby New Road Community Centre Autumn Fayre.

Opening the Earby Autumn Fayre

Unexpectedly we were led into the hall by an armed guard of members of the Sealed Knott.

Armed guard by the Sealed Knot

Whilst opening the Fayre I told everyone that that was the best entrance I had ever had.

Firing squad

Tim Warrell allows me to become a temporary member of the Sealed Knot

We toured the many stalls and saw a demonstration of muskets and pikestaffs by the Lt. Col. John Lilburne’s regiment of The Sealed Knot.

I can tell you that it was a heavy musket

In Geoff Crambie’s Old Pendle column in this week’s Nelson Leader he gives the banquet menu for Nelson Council’s Charter Day on 30th August 1890. He also says that the “sumptuous cornucopia” would have been to my liking but I think that I had better stick to my 5-a-day routine if I want to keep my waistline.

Sunday 7th October
A much needed day off so I can take it bit easy and catch up on the piles of stuff that I haven’t managed to get round to. Such as cleaning the car, blogging and sawing up some more logs for winter.

Mayoress's Fundraising events coming up . . .

Saturday 13th October – Coffee Morning at John & Judith David’s, Hoarstones, Fence. 10.00 – 12.00

Tuesday 23rd October – Beauty Therapy Demonstration evening by the Institute of Health and Beauty, Barrowford, + Wine Tasting (supplied by Stephensons). At the Town Hall, Nelson from 7.30pm. Tickets £5 including drinks and nibbles. Please ring 817558 for tickets.