This week we greet ESOL students, award 5-a-day prizes, meet budding new businesses, attend a centenary dinner and switch on Pendle's Christmas Lights

Monday 19 November
A welcome catch up day, before the Christmas rush. I sorted out the Mayor’s Christmas Cards, which we have managed to source from Keith Melling, a well-known local painter of our lovely countryside.
In the evening I went to Nelson Town Hall for our regular LibDem Pendle Council group’s monthly meeting.

Tuesday 20 November
In to the Town Hall by 10.00am to meet with the ESOL group from Nelson & Colne College (English for Speakers of other Languages). We showed them into the Council Chamber where I went through what we do on the Council and how it works.

I meet the ladies of the ESOl group

In the questions and answers I got put on the spot in a wide number of subjects including “Why are the bins only emptied every 2 week”. I told them that I had seen the hole in the ground where all of the non-recycled rubbish gets dumped. And I told them what the neighbours close to that site told me - they said it stank and why should the whole of Lancashire dump their rubbish on their doorstep. I told the students that the hole was almost full and we shouldn’t be dumping our rubbish for future generations to clear up. In Pendle we have made a good start to re-cycling and now achieve around 36%, which is good but not good enough. Germany recycles 75% so we have a long way to go.

Showing the Civic chains to the ESOL ladies

After the students left, I nipped into the office to catch up on what was happening there. Then back to the Town hall in the afternoon to present the winners of the 5-a-day Competition with their prizes.

The 5 a day competition winners get their prizes in the Mayor's Parlour

On the way home a big flight of Canada geese flew over me in the twilight. What a wonderful sight and if I had been out of the car I would have been able to listen to them all honking to one another.

Wednesday 21 November
I called in to see the Pendle Tourism Manager about the plans for the Nigerian delegation who are visiting us here in Pendle next Tuesday. I followed this with a quick meeting with The Pendle Enterprise Trust.
Rushed back to the Town hall to greet the businesses attending my second Mayor’s Business Lunch.

I welcome the budding Pendle Entrepreneur's

This time we had invited start up businesses. I got the lunch going by telling them of my experience of starting a business over 30 years ago in my back bedroom. The new start-ups were all enthusiastic – and they need to be – as starting a new business is an exciting leap into the unknown for them. We told them about the benefits of the Guardian Angels, experienced business people who mentor small businesses free of charge. Everyone enjoyed the lunch and considered it to be a success.
In the evening I watched England make a complete hash of the European qualifying match. With that performance they didn’t deserve to go through anyway.

Thursday 22 November

A day mostly concentrating on my business, where we spent some time looking around another company, which is for sale.

Friday 23 November
I sorted out my vehicle tax disk on line, which is much easier than having to go to the post office or posting it.
In the evening we went to the Dunkenhalgh Hotel for E.A. Foulds Ltd centenary dinner.

E.A. Foulds family business celebrates 100 years

Very few companies reach 100 years; in fact the average age of a company is around 9 years – as most of them go under in the first couple of years. So achieving 100 years is certainly something special and Foulds is still a family firm now in the 4th generation.

We meet with the Foulds family and their guests

We met Renee Foulds, who was the matriarch of the family at 87 who was most interesting. David Foulds gave a speech about the company and mentioned that his granddad was a Liberal Councillor in Colne, which showed their civic link. Foulds, I was told had installed lifts for the James Bond films and in the Falkland Islands Hospital and now install and service lifts all over Britain and abroad.

Saturday 23 November
Before 9am I did a quick interview on the Joe Wilson show on Radio Lancashire to plug the Pendle Christmas Lights Switch On in 6 Towns throughout the Borough this evening.

"What a cracking motorbike and sidecar Grommit"

The Willow Workshop, which I was due to go to in the afternoon, was cancelled at the last minute because of the wet weather.

The Mayor of Brierfield Town Council greets me and Father Christmas at Brierfield

In the late afternoon we set off for Brierfield to start the Christmas Lights Switch on across the Borough of Pendle.

Into the sidecar for wet and windy ride

After posing for the local press and our own photographer we switched the lights on then set off Wallace & Grommit style in a 500cc Matchless motorbike and sidecar kindly loaned for the occasion by Stuart Gaunt, from Oakworth near Keighley. Stuart got into the spirit by dressing up as Father Christmas. I was in the sidecar with a big coat on with my civic chains and with massive gauntlets to keep my hands warm enough to do the switch ons. We got lots of cars honking their horns and people waving at us as we went to Nelson to switch their lights on.

Switch on in Nelson

From there onto Barrowford to repeat the event. From there onto Colne, were we met up with Councillors Alan & Sharon Davies. Alan is the leader of Pendle Council and Sharon chairs the Colne & District Area Committee.

We arrive to Switch On in Colne

Also there to welcome us was Coun. Dorothy Lord. From Colne then onto Earby where I met up with Coun. Chris Tennant to help with the switch on.

The Earby lads get into the spirit of Christmas and give us a big wave

We were making good time as we were on a tight schedule to get us to the last switch on in Barnoldswick at 6.30. This we achieved and rode onto the Town Square at the right time, where a marquee was erected and a live band playing. Father Christmas and I went on stage to join with Liz the Barnoldswick Town Crier.

Father Christmas, the Town Crier and I start the countdown in Barnoldswick (notice the motorcycle gauntlets!)

After being introduced by Coun Marjorie Adams, and having an extremely loud cry in our honour by Liz, I started the countdown. Everyone joined in and the Town was soon ablaze with festive colour.

We then had yet more photos for the press and managed to get a cup of tea to warm us up. This is the first time that we have attempted to switch all of the lights on across the Borough around the same time, so it was a challenge to keep to a very tight schedule.

Liz and her daughter show me the tree lights in Barlick

Everyone looked to have thoroughly enjoyed it and it got them all into the Festive Spirit. I however was frozen to the bone and rather wet and bedraggled. Anyway once back home a quick warm in front of my wood burning stove with a whisky and water, soon sorted me out.

This week we visit Halewood, finish the Pendle Way, present certificates, attend prize giving and congratulate our Pendle villages

Monday 12 November
I had my car booked in at 9am to get the squeak sort out so I dropped it off and walked into the office. At my business we are looking at other company’s to acquire and I spent most of the morning receiving information on one. We then picked up our accountant and went to have a look at it. The difference between other companies and our, is striking as soon as we go through their doors. After being in the design and print industry for many years I am able to spot their problems quickly. We spent 2 or 3 hours going through the information, which they provided, but decided that it wasn’t a good enough deal, so we walked away.
Back to the office for a very quick butty before setting off to Halewood Town Council (near to Liverpool). I inputted the postcode into my sat nav. and it was a complete pain. It kept trying to get me off the motorway and take me round the back streets. Anyway I got there just in time for our meeting with their Town Councillors. We had arranged the meeting to see how they operated a Town Council. They have quality council status as has our Barnoldswick Town Council, which we were representing. A most interesting meeting, with some good points to learn from them. We invited them to visit us to see our wonderful bit of Britain. I got home at about 10.30 having eaten sandwiches all day. I slept well!

Tuesday 13 November
In the afternoon we completed the Pendle Way backwards. We have now done the 45 miles of this wonderful footpath both ways. So this is 90 miles plus the 12.9 miles of the Leeds & Liverpool walk which takes us over the 100 miles.

The Pendle Way walkers look cool on Weets

We paused going up Weets Hill to wave to Jack in his farm below us on Esp Lane before carrying on to get to the trig point at the top of Weets. This is a wonderful hill; you get a magnificent 360-degree panorama.

The end of the Pendle Way clockwise and anti-clockwise 90 miles!

From the Yorkshire Dales with it's 3 peaks and Malham Cove to Blackpool Tower, and over towards Hebden Bridge. If you want to lift your spirits – just get yourself up Weets Hill.

The now traditional tea and buns at Pendle Heritage Centre

I then had to get my skates on to get to the Town Hall for a photo shoot with the Overview and Scrutiny councillors who had completed their training.

Councillors receive their certificates in the mayors Parlour

As they had left a bit of their tea, I was able to rustle up a cheese and tomato sandwich, together with some grapes and a cup of tea. I took these with me into the Scrutiny Management council meeting, which finished around 9pm.

Wednesday 14 November
We had to get into the Town Hall for 10.00am to meet the students from Nelson & Colne College who came in batches so I had to improvise a bit.

Nelson & Colne College students pay us a visit

I did this by showing them my Blog on the new projector in the Members Room. I was able to go through some of the pictures that are on it and explain a bit about them.

I show the students the old Nelson Civic Chains

We then went into the Council Chamber and showed them how I chaired the council meeting and how the council ran.
I had to stay at the Town Hall to chair the Licensing Committee at 1pm where we had a hearing brought by the police regarding an off-license in Colne selling alcohol to underage children. We imposed a penalty on it and hoped that it would act as a warning to others that we would not accept this.
In the evening I attended the West Craven Together board, and as we had lots to sort out it went on till after 10.00. But at least this time I had had time to get a proper tea.

Thursday 15 November
In the morning we held our regular monthly board meeting of my company, which I chair. In the afternoon I went to our first planning meeting for the Pendle Business Awards, which we are planning to put on early next year. The plans look good and we decide on 9 business awards from new business of the year to business person of the year.
From there I drove up to Colne to see Pendle Leisure Trust about our plans to put on a Buzz Hawkins and the Bradshaw’s in February at Colne’s Municipal Hall. Everything looks good and we should be able to raise lots of money for the Mayoress’s charities.
No time to sit down when I got home as I had to be at Pendle Vale College in Nelson for their Prize giving event. I felt to be a little bit of history as I will be the last Mayor to present the prizes in the school, which was built in 1929.

With the headteacher Mr Wilson at Pendle Vale College Prize Giving

I never imagined that when I attended prize giving’s as a young student in Burnley in the 1950’s that I would one day be up there sitting on a stage doing this. A new exciting school is being built at the side of the old one and it looks absolutely stunning. It is due to open in September next year. The Head invited me back to have a look around the new build. We also chatted about the historical artefact's in the old school and what was to become of them.

Friday 16 November
In the morning I carried on with my quest to find another company to acquire and looked at another one, which was run down but more promising. Back to the office then to see the launch of our 2 new digital presses followed by a buffet and our staff meeting.
From there to Marsden Community Primary School for their adult learners certificate presentation. We were received by Javed Khan their Extended Services Manager, in the new annex, where the adults had worked really had to achieve their results .

Awarding certificates to the adult learners

What an outstanding school! The head, Janet Taylor, is one of those people who just get’s things done and the school certainly showed it. We only had a quick look around and promised to go back for a proper visit.
After a quick change at home, I went back to the Town Hall for the Lancashire Best Kept Villages winner’s civic reception.

The Pendle villagers get congratulated in the Council Chamber

We congratulated our wonderful villages on their great achievements. Roughlee won the champion village, Blacko the best small village, and Newchurch in Pendle, the best hamlet. As if that wasn’t enough they had also won Best sheltered accommodation (Hill View - Blacko), Best War memorial (Blacko), Best special feature (Blacko school allotments), Best shop (Witches Galore, Newchurch), and Best Caravan site (Roughlee). And, Barley was also runner up as the Best Hamlet, and for the Best village hall. Newchurch School also won a highly recommended. I told everyone at the reception that when I had attended the awards ceremony I was sat next to the Mayor of Ribble Valley who was green with envy. In Pendle, we are really proud of our outstanding little villages and they have all proved their merits by winning these awards.

Saturday 17 November
Up early to get to Colne Library for our Meet the Mayor Surgery. It's a while since I was in the Libary but was impressed with how well used it was and that it now has banks of computers for internet access.

The old Colne stocks on wheels - now at Colne Libary

I met with several people about different issues of concern to themselves, which I shall look in to.

The last Mayor of Colne at his house with the Mayor's lamp outside

We took the opportunity to take a few photographs of the old Colne Mayor's lamps which were always installed outside the Mayor's House. There is absolutely no chance of me getting Mayor's lamps as there is no gas at my home. We also inspected the Colne Cross and the old mobile stocks.

Jacqui and I try to copy the old photo - but either Mayor's were shorter or attendants taller in those days.

At noon we went along to the Pendle Hippodrome’s Arts & Craft Fair.

At the Hippodrome Arts & Crafts Fair.

We started with a spot of lunch and I had meat and potato pie and mushy peas with red cabbage. That set me up to for the visit to all of the stands. Also, whilst there we had a look at their sound and light control booth at the back of the theatre.

Inspecting the new Hippodrome light panel

They had just installed a new lights control panel, which enable them to preset the lights for the shows. We also had a look in the wardrobe department where I was looking for Wallace & Grommet outfits for the Christmas Lights Switch on next Friday.

I join an advert for a forthcoming production. Dr Jeckel's the one on the left.

I did manage to find a pair of big gauntlets, now I need a crash helmet and fighter pilot goggles to fit me out for the night.
We left at 2pm to drive to Nelson to open the Faisalabad Welfare Association’s new offices on Scotland Road. I cut the ribbon to the offices with the tradition blunt pair of scissors.

Next time I shall bring my own scissors!

The office was full with many members of the community joining together to celebrate the opening. After some speeches we enjoyed a spot of food upstairs and chatted to some very interesting people.
A rare evening off so I watched Scotland get beat by Italy with what looked a very suspicious free kick in extra time. I hadn’t expected England to benefit by Israel beating Russia, so I hadn’t watched that.

Sunday 18 November
One of those rare days off! So I caught up on some of the domestic stuff that inevitably gets left when I am busy. The wood burner is now going full blast and keeping the house warm. Time also to catch up on the piles of emails that get left until I can get sort them out and do this blog, which now takes me over 3 hours.

This week we visit Trawden, walk the Pendle Way, open two Librarys, have a Law Society dinner, play model railways & attend Remembrance Day in 3 Towns

Monday 5 November (Bon Fire night)
We went along to officially open the Barnoldswick’s Poppy Shop and met with their organiser Anne-Marie and president Eric. Eric was injured in WW2 and was captured by the Japanese in Singapore.

Opening the Barlick Poppy Shop

He spent the rest of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp. It’s down to Anne-Marie, Eric and others that the poppy appeal and Remembrance Day are so successful in the Town.
The tarmacer’s had also turned up this morning to do the driveway in front of the farmhouse. They are a hard working lot and soon had the area levelled. This is something that I have been planning to do for several years now but have at last got round to getting it done.
In the afternoon I called into the Town Hall for a chat with our communications team to sort out the plans that we had for future Mayoral events. Straight in to the next meeting, where we help put together the next edition of Pendle News. This goes out to all residents in Pendle quarterly.
In the evening I went to Trawden Parish Council for their meeting.

Trawden Parish Council meeting

I have now visited 16 of the 17 Town and Parish Councils in Pendle. The 17th only holds occasional Parish Meetings so we have so far been unable to arrange anything with them. This is a bit unfortunate as it is Brogden and Bracewell where I live. At Trawden, the hall was full with residents, joining Parish Councillors to consider local issues. I once again thanked them for their hard work and commitment to their community.


Tuesday 6 November
The tarmacer’s returned to finish the job, and have left me with a great driveway that is just shouting to get roller skates and skate boards on.
The afternoon was again a sunny and warm day (again!). Tuesday afternoons are when we walk the Pendle Way, so today we did the Earby to Barnoldswick section. We are nearly there now with just one more section to do, so we will finish next week with tea and buns.
In the evening I attended the West Craven Area Committee. We move the venue around our patch and this time it was at Rolls Royce Social Club in Barnoldswick. This committee considers all of the services provided by Pendle Borough Council in West Craven.
I don’t watch much TV but a programme caught my eye on Helvetica at 50. Helvetica is the most used typeface in the world and was first drawn 50 years ago in Switzerland, hence the name. All ex-stamp collators will remember that the Swiss stamp has Helvetia on it. My background as a compositor and typesetter gives me an understanding of some the finer points of type design. I can well remember when we got our first case of beautiful 10pt Helvetica Medium metal type back in the early 1960's, it was like Christmas for me.

Wednesday 7 November
Most of today was taken up with my business where we are looking to acquire other companies.
In the evening I attended Barnoldswick Town Council. As the Chairperson was off ill, I had to chair it as vice-chair. Amongst other items we had a report from the Town Crier, Liz, regarding Barnoldswick putting on the British National Champion Town Crier Competition in 2009. If we were able to facilitate this it would be a very colourful and prestigious event. We have encouraged Liz to come up with a plan for it.


Thursday 8 November
I took the car in to get an irritating squeak sorted and then spent most of the day in the office at work. We had just received notice of a company that may be offered for sale, so we spent most of the time getting information on it. It is incredible what you can now turn up on the internet and this helped us to get a bit better understanding of them.
I was supposed to go to new war memorial opening in Barley but the organisers changed the day at the last minute.


Friday 9 November
We went to Park Junior School in Colne to hand out the awards for the Road Safety drawing competition.

Road safety art competition winners

It’s along time since I was in school and I didn’t like most of it, but this school was lovely. The children all had smiling faces and the teachers all looked to be enjoying their jobs. We opened 2 new libraries, which looked great for the children to get a love of books.

Opening the new Libary

We all need to be able to use the computer but we should never forget the wealth of knowledge and experiences in books.
A quick lunch, and then back to the Town Hall for a meeting with service managers, on how our plans were progressing. After that another regular meeting with officers on what was on the horizon.
In the evening, it was black tie again, as I went to Burnley Football Club for the Burnley & Pendle Law Society Annual Dinner. I was sat between Rev. Tom Bill, the rector of the parish Church of St. Peter, Burnley, and the Mayor of Burnley Peter McCann. An excellent dinner followed by interesting speeches, which didn’t finish until after 11.00. I was amazed at the numbers associated with law in our area, so business must be good.

Saturday 10 November
We went to open the Pendle Forest Model Railway Society 41st Annual exhibition. We were met by Peter Wainman their chairman, who showed us around. There were over 12 working models and lots of stalls.

With the tramway modellers from Derbyshire

I opened the event by telling them that Hornby Dublo’s profits were up so the next generation of Railway modellers were probably being created this Christmas.

Model of the Canadian Railways

I also welcomed the group from Creil in France who are from our Twin Town. One of their group is a Eurostar train driver who will soon be bringing his train into the new Eurostar terminus at St. Pancras, London.

The railway modellers from our twin town of Creil

All of the exhibits were very interesting and you could easily see the many hours of dedication that the people who had built them had put in.

A quick ride on the Thompson's Park train

Sunday 11 November (Remembrance Sunday)
A very busy Day and we had to get to Colne for 10.00 dressing in the full Mayoral outfit of red coat, gold civic chains, white gloves and an ancient hat. I put on my hiking socks as a shield against the expected cold. The day was sunny and not too cold. Starting from the Colne Royal British Legion headquarters we went in procession to the Cenotaph.

The Colne Rememberance Day procession

Here we laid wreaths and had a short service before heading back to Colne Town Hall for the parade past.

Taking the salute outside Colne Town Hall

After the parade had passed we jumped in the car to get back to the headquarters to welcome them back. Afterwards we had time for a cup of tea and a sandwich. Whilst there I had a chat with some of the ex-servicemen about their experiences. I also met with Luke Riley who was wearing his great-great grandad's British Empire Medal.

With Luke Riley and friends at Colne British Legion Club

We left Colne to get to Nelson for 1.30, where we went in procession from the Innovation Centre to the Nelson Cenotaph.

Getting ready for the service outside Nelson Town Hall

This time the Nelson Brass Band and the Accrington Pipe Band took turns in playing.

Laying the wreath at Nelson Cenotaph

I laid the wreath at the Cenotaph and another at the Boy Scout Statue.

Laying the wreath at the Boy Scout memorial statue

Afterwards we again took the salute outside Nelson Town Hall at the memorial stone to those who died in the First World War.

Accrington Pipe Band lead the Nelson march past

We had then to drive quickly to Barnoldswick for their start at 2.55. This was held on the Town Square for the first time, as there is more space there and less traffic noise.

The procession starts out from Barnoldswick Town Square

After a short service we followed the Barnoldswick Brass Band to the Cenotaph to lay the wreaths.

Laying the wreath at Barnoldswick Cenotaph

The day had got gradually colder and by this time I was glad that I was wearing the white gloves and the old Mayor’s hat (size 7¼!). Back home from there to stand in front of the Aga for a while to get warmed up. I decide that I need some chillies in tonight’s tea.

This week we meet the bellringers, open a cafe, walk the Pendle Way, visit the courts, go to a Ball and countdown the fireworks

Monday 29 October
A day to catch up on some of things that need doing and as it was dry I decided to walk up to my post box, which is about ¾ mile away. Where I live we do not get post delivered or for that matter nor do we get a refuse collection. I am also on a spring supply for water but we do at least have electricity, which only arrived here in the 1960’s. Prior to that it would have been oil lamps.
In the evening I went to the Town Hall to meet with this year’s intake of new councillors. We wanted to know their experiences and if we could do more to support them. They all looked to be handling their roles of councillors well and it seemed that the information and mentoring that they can get has been helpful.

Tuesday 30 October
We set off on the Emmott Arms, Laneshaw Bridge to Earby section of the Pendle Way in warm sun.

More wonderful views of our Pendle countryside

As we walked it did cloud over but didn’t rain, so success with the weather again. This stretch takes us by the trig point adopted by John Belbin and we noted that it could perhaps do with a wash and brush up similar to the freshly painted trig point on top of Pendle Hill.

Mr Belbin's adopted trig point

This is the sixth section of the walk and once again gives excellent views across Pendle.

Up and over

Wednesday 31 October
I ordered the heating oil for winter on the internet, which is very easy to do, cheaper and the service has been excellent. In the afternoon I delivered Barnoldswick Town Council’s newsletter called Communicate. This has gone quarterly but this time we decided to deliver it ourselves to save money and to get a tighter delivery round. Previously when we paid the post office to deliver they could only do it to a postcode area, which included villages not in Barnoldswick. The delivery took me about 3 hours and takes me into a part of the Town we call Poet’s Corner has the street names are called Milton, etc.
In the evening I was on the Standards Committee to consider a complaint about a councillor. We looked at the evidence given by the officers and as the majority of the committee wanted to have a full hearing we had to defer it for a few weeks.

Thursday 1 November
I nipped in to my friendly hairdresser Manfred, at Talking Heads in Brierfield, for my regular haircut and ear bending. Manfred has clients from all over the place including me from Barnoldswick. He told me that one client rung him from South America to make sure that she got booked in!
In the evening I went to meet with the bell ringers of St Mary le Ghyll Church. They are a committed bunch and want to get a ring of 8 bells rather than the 3 that are there now. These original bells are from 1723 and were last refurbished in 1880.

St Mary le Ghyll bell tower - picture taken when we did the Beating the Bounds launch

The bell ringers took me up the bell tower to see for myself the problems that they have now. The bell frame is also starting to split and need replacing. The idea is to start a Centre of Excellence for bell ringers. But they have been turned down by the Heritage Lottery Fund and are looking for ideas to be able to move forward. I said that I would do what I could to help them. The church just celebrated being built 850 years ago so this is living history and needs everyone to support them.

Friday 2 November
We went to open the Old Rock Cafe in Trawden in the morning. On arriving at 10.00am we were a little surprised to see it was full already. So, they had got the new buisness off to a flying start.

We open the Old Rock Cafe with a nice cup of tea

I went round the tables to chat to everyone and met a couple from Japan who were over looking for antiques. I also met the author of a book on Trawden and a man who made stained glass windows. Several local people were also there to welcome the new Cafe and told me that it was just what was wanted in Trawden. I urge you to go and visit the Old Rock Cafe soon.
In the afternoon we had a meeting with Tim, who is the Commanding Officer of the John Lilburne's Regiment of Foote in the Sealed Knot. The Sealed Knot put on re-enactment civil war battles. We were investigating if we could do this in Colne next year and the initial response was positive. Tim says that a full battle would bring in 2500-3500 members of the Sealed Knot. They would make a replica tented village of Civil War battles. A lot of work will need to be done if we are to get this event to take place but if we can it would be a fantastic spectacle that would get people flocking to see it.

Saturday 3 November
A busy day today. In the morning we visited the Crown Court in Burnley for Inside Justice Open Week.

We are in the Jury for the 1960's court case

They had a re-enactments of 1960’s and a 1990’s court cases. Both were youth court cases, which would not have been open to the public if they were for real. We also saw an exhibition on tagging and were told that around 2000 of the devices are in use in the Burnley Area. We asked if they could they be tampered with but were reassured that that is easily detected. We went straight from the Courts to the Kelbrook Arts & Crafts Fair.

Chatting with the owner of Kelbrook Pottery

I managed to have a chat with several of the stallholders who were all offering excellent craft articles at reasonable prices.

The Mayoress gets into serious buying mode

The Village hall management team also kept me abreast of their funding issues for completion of the project.

Meeting with some of the members of the Village Hall management committee

We then went into the new café area and I had pasty, mushy peas, gravy and red cabbage. Excellent! We congratulated the ladies in the kitchen for all of their hard work.

Thanking the ladies for an excellent lunch

In the evening we went to the Burnley Mayor’s Ball. This was held at the newly re-furbished Mechanics Institute.

Black tie for the Mayors Ball

I have to wear my dinner jacket and black tie for the do as Mayors and civic guests from all over Lancashire were there. After a session by comedian Bobby Bender! we called it a day and arrived home around midnight.

Sunday 4th November
I had to get the yard at the front of the house cleared in the morning as I tomorrow we are having it tarmaced. This meant shifting stuff that had been lying around for years and blowing the leaves from the Sycamore trees into piles for composting. Fortunately my brother-in-law turned up just as I was getting to heavy shifting stage.

Firework Fantasia

In the afternoon I helped to put up the park and ride signs for tonight’s Fireworks Fantasia. The event is held in Victory Park in Barnoldswick and parking can be short supply so we ferry people in by bus from the outskirts. At around 7pm on a clear and not too cold night we went back with our civic chains on to open the event.

Big J and the Piccolo Chickens

On stage were Big J and the Piccolo Chickens, a daft name but a cracking band and they got the crowd dancing in the park.

Ron from St John Ambulance on duty

Before going on stage we met with the St John Ambulance team who always do an excellent job. I asked if they had had anything to do to which they answered no and wanted it to stay that way. There were many thousand of people in the park when I went on stage to open the Fireworks Fantasia.

Countdown to the fireworks

Everyone joined me in counting down to 10 for the start and then watched twenty minutes of the best firework display in the North West. Over 2 tons of brilliant fireworks went up into the night sky to cheers and applause from everyone.

Two tons of fireworks in 20 minutes

After the event finished we joined the crowd as they left and chatted to a few who said that it was the best ever and great value for money.

Fireworks, the green laser lights and me