As I am keen to continue to visit as many of our thriving businesses in Pendle as possible, I went along to three of our local companies. The first was Just Glass a new start up company in Nelson to see how we had been able to support them with a grant for equipment.
It reminded me of when I started my own business back in 1976, having to manage on very little money whilst building it up. Young businesses like Just Glass need help and support when they are in their early stages, and Pendle is able to do that. In the afternoon we went to meet Graham the MD of Korribox on Lomeshaye Estate.
They have been going for a few years and now growing quickly. The company, which produces the kind of boxes, which you will see in supermarkets, is well managed and has sound controls in place. They also had received a grant for a screen-printing machine. Later in the afternoon we went to see Gary Little the MD of Kirk Engineering.
They have premises in Colne as well as Earby, which is where we went to. This company is going through rapid growth and is in need of larger premises. The press turned up for photos so we were able to give them a bit of well-earned publicity.
Tuesday 4 March
In the morning we went to meet again with Pendle Community Network who are partnering with us to put on the first Pendle Community Volunteers Awards. We decide to hold it at Nelson Town Hall on Wednesday May 7th. We have lots of people in Pendle who give up their time freely to help their community groups. These volunteers do not often get thanked and this will give us the perfect opportunity to do this. We decided to present the winners with certificates and trophies and to video the event. It looks to be shaping up to be a great event, which I hope will be repeated yearly.
Afterwards we nipped in to the Town Hall to see how the preparations were going for the Mayors Black & White Charity Ball on Friday. Jane and the other officers were in full control and there was little left for us to sort out.
In the afternoon I delivered Focus leaflets to part of my ward of Coates Barnoldswick, which took me around 3½ hours. It certainly keeps you fit pushing leaflets through letterboxes. (Have you ever seen a fat postman?)
Just time for a spot of tea before going to the West Craven Area Committee at Rolls Royce Club where we had several planning applications to consider. We also heard of the progress of the large investment going into Victory Park Barnoldswick.
Wednesday 5 March
After a morning meeting at work, I went along to Barnoldswick Library for the meeting of the Barnoldswick Music Society in the afternoon. Around 30 local people had come along.
Here’s my choice;
Wishin & Hopin – Dusty Springfield
The times they are a-changing – Bob Dylan
The Flower Duet - Lesley Garrett
We love Mambo – Booker T & the MGs
We have all the time in the World - Louis Armstrong
House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
Lets spend the Night Together – The Rolling Stones
Dirty old town – The Pogues
Fanfare for the Common Man - Copeland
Walk of Life - Dire Straits
Eight Days a week – Beatles
Da Do Ron Ron -The Crystals
Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega
Ain’t got no, I got life – Nina Simone
In the Midnight Hour – The Commitments
Just time for a quick change before getting over to Nelson Town Hall for a meeting with European students from Nelson & Colne College.
Nelson & Colne students come to see what the Mayor does
Over 40 attended and afterwards I checked where they were originally from. They came from Turkey, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Pakistan, Thailand and many other countries. I gave them all chance to see the civic regalia and explained what I did as Mayor. Afterwards whist I showed them this blog, we discussed food, the weather and lots of issues that interested them.
Thursday 6 March
In the evening it was the Barnoldswick Town Council Annual Town Meeting. The start of the meeting was to present awards for special people in our community. Afterwards we went on to hear what residents felt about the recent Supermarket planning application for the Butts. As several of us are also Councillors on the West Craven Area Committee we were unable to do much but listen, as the government planning regulations for councillors is strict.
Friday 7 March
I had to nip in to the office to pick up the Menus for tonight’s Black & White Charity Ball. From there I went to Park High School in Colne for the Schools IT Fair, organised by Colne Rotary Club, which was very well attended.
Look at that - you can just see it spanning a great river
Many local schools where competing with a technology test to produce a bridge. The test had differing complications depending on the student’s age. Teachers were also competing with the students. I managed to get around all of the school teams and my knowledge of how Telford built his bridges came in useful. I chatted to all the teams, this sort of event really does show how great are young people are.
I show great interest in how they have tackled the project
They are obviously going to be successful in whatever they decide to do for their futures.
In the evening it was the Mayors Black & White Charity Ball at Colne Muni.
The reception committee greets everyone to the ball
Here's what I said;
Welcome to the annual Mayor’s Black and White Charity Ball.
As the 32nd Mayor of Pendle it has been a both a very busy and enjoyable year for the Mayoress - my sister Barbara and myself. During our year we have seen and done many things and met lots of interesting people. This includes walking the 46 miles of the Pendle Way both ways, climbing to the top of all of our great hills Pendle, Weets and Boulsworth, in my suit, with the chains on, walking the whole length of the canal in Pendle and also getting thoroughly soaked wet through twice when Beating the Bounds.
We have had cucumber sandwiches on the Royal lawn, strawberries at the house of Lords, Dinner at the Commons and when the Mayors of Lancashire and Craven visited us for our tour of Pendle - fish & chips. We have met lots of Pendle residents who have reach the ripe old age of 100 years old, several couples holding their diamond weddings, and people of all ages and from all walks of life. They all have an interesting story to tell. I have kept everyone who wished to know what I was doing, informed with my Mayors Blog.
I was pleased that recently we were able to host the first Pendle Business Awards. The event was a great success and showed the extremely high standard of our local businesses. In May we will do the first Pendle Community Volunteers Awards to give us the opportunity to thank the local volunteers who give their time freely for our community.
An extra special welcome to our friends who have joined us this evening from Pendle’s twin towns of Creil in France and Marl in Germany. My special thanks go to our, mostly young, council officers who have enthusiastically helped with the organisation for tonight’s ball.
And can I thank you all for joining with us tonight and I hope that you will be generous in supporting our charity Raffle, Tombola and Golden Envelope. We have some great prizes, so please feel free to spend as much as you like, its all for charity.
Friends from Marl, Creil and Pendle get together for a press call
It was a black tie do, in keeping with the black & white theme. There has been a tradition of holding civic balls for over a century.
The younger members of our family group
We had around 150 people including guest from our twinned towns of Creil, France and Marl Germany, there for a grand do with excellent food and live swing from big band - Sounds 18.
The Colne LibDems enjoy the night
We also raised almost £1500 for our charities; Rainbows Special Needs Nursery, West Craven First Responders and the Burnley & Pendle Befriending Scheme.
The Deputy Mayor of Marl greets Pauline and other members of the Twinning Association
Here’s our press release;Almost £1,500 raised at Mayor’s Black and White Charity Ball
A total of £1,425 was raised at the Mayor of Pendle’s Black and White Charity Ball. Coun Allan Buck and his Mayoress, Mrs Barbara Mitchell were joined by 130 fund-raising guests at Colne Muni on Friday night. The ball was held to raise funds for West Craven First Responders, Rainbows Special Needs Therapy Nursery and the Burnley and Pendle Befriending Scheme. The money was made from a raffle, tombola and golden envelope game, as well as a number of generous donations from other people. The evening started with a drinks reception and was followed by a three-course, buffet-style meal with wine. Big swing band Sounds 18 provided the entertainment for the black and white themed evening. Guests from our twinned towns of Creil and Marl, who were visiting Pendle for the weekend, joined the Mayor and Mayoress for the night.
“The evening went with a real swing,” said Coun Buck. “We sampled some excellent food, enjoyed some real live music and at the same time raised lots of money for our worthy local charities. “Everyone told me how much they had enjoyed the ball and it was also nice to have the visitors from our twin towns join us.”
Saturday 8 March
In the evening we joined the Twinning Committee for a visit to Manchester with our friends from Creil and Marl to see the opera Madam Butterfly by Puccini. It was first produced at Teatro alla Scalla in Milan on February 17, 1904. The part of Madam Butterfly was taken by Elana Dee with a powerful soprano voice.
The story is that of a young Japanese girl who falls in love and marries Lieutenant Pinkerton from the USA navy. He then goes back to sea saying that he will return. Three years later she still waits for him, but unknown to her, he had re-married. When eventually he does return, he finds that she has had his son. His new wife and he say that they will look after his son and then Madam Butterfly kills herself! Or something like that.
As we were getting back on the coach for the return journey, one of the Twinning Committee joked that the opera was all sex and violence!
Sunday 9 March
At 10.30 we went to support the volunteers of the friends group at Barrowford Park who were clearing the bog garden.
I only do a token dig as I am not really dressed for the part
It was raining a bit but they were all giving up their Sunday morning to help make the park just that little bit better. The press turned up so we all had a picture taken before I had to leave for the Creil, Marl and Pendle Twinning Committee Annual General Meeting. This was held at Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford.
. . . and finally - I had this wonderful picture coloured in by Rachel Tomlinson of Higham School, where I had visited last week. I think that I look very young and trendy. Thank you!
