At 10am we met up with Allison, Phil and Bob from Pendle Leisure Trust at Colne Muni to receive the cheque handover for our Meet the Bradshaws Concert.
We receive the big cheque for the Bradshaws concert
The LeisureTrust had generously given us free use of the hall so we were very pleased to receive £3074, all of which is all going into the Mayoress’s Charity Fund. The press turned up for a quick photo which went in the Leader Group of newspapers on Friday. This amount takes the fund to over £10,000.
Mr Pilkington comes into the parlour to get his prize
Just after lunch Andrew Pilkington of Wenning Street, Nelson came into our Parlour at the Town Hall to be presented with his prize for entering our Healthy Communities Quiz. The promotion was to encourage people to alternate their drinking with some non-alcoholic drinks.
At 2pm we welcomed the Roughlee Luncheon club in the Council Chamber.
We welcome the Roughlee Luncheon Club
I go in dressed in my red gown and with the chains to tell them a little about how Pendle works. I demonstrate to them how big the Mayors chair is, how uncomfortable it is and what happens if you sit back!
We show them the chains and regalia
I also show them the Mayors cocked hat which is several times too large for me and which I wear only if I absolutely have to at ceremonial occasions. Afterwards we showed them around the Mayors Parlour.
The old Nelson Mayor's Chain - complete with an enamel picture of the sewage works!
Whilst they were all having a cup of tea and a biscuit, I showed them the bit of my Blog from when we went to Roughlee Christmas party.
In the evening I attended the Scrutiny Management Committee at Nelson. We considered several reports including Housing Pendle and Pendle’s promotion of Tourism and Corporate Equalities Monitoring.
Wednesday 26 March
I had to be up bright and early to be ready for an 8am set off for our visit to Lancaster City Council. Together with 24 other Lancashire Mayors and Mayoress’s we were met by the Lancaster Mayor, Helen Helme, at Dennison’s Trailers.
Mayors all kitted out in safety gear
We then had a tour of the business led by the Managing Director. One interesting fact was that the cost of a wheel and tyre for the trailers was £200, which for a wheel that size is very cheap compared to cars.
This is where racehorses go when they stop racing
From there we went to The Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre at Halton. If you ever wondered what happened to race horses when they are no longer required, this centre was an eye opener. The horses are bred to race and so need lots of training to be able to be used for anything else. The day was very cold and we got absolutely freezing being showed around, so my feet never warmed up again all day.
Fish pie for lunch
From there to Glasson Dock for lunch at the Dalton Arms which was fish pie and very good.
The estate Land Rovers take to the hills
In the afternoon we went to Abbeystead to meet up with the Land Rovers of the Duke of Westminster’s estate. We were driven over the moors on rough tracks used for grouse shooting.
Barbara and one of the estate gamekeepers
The Game Keeper and Estate manager who were in our vehicle were very informative about how the moors were maintained for shooting. We were told that it can cost £70 per bird to take part in grouse shooting parties.
Mayors on the Moors
The day was cold, damp and misty so we didn’t see very much apart from lots of grouse. We were then taken back to The Duke’s country residence but only had time for a quick peek inside as I had to get back to Barlick.
The gamekeepers guard the front door
On the way back we got completely snarled up on the M65 as I understand someone was threatening to throw themselves off a bridge. And in the same week we found that an 81 year old lady had driven down the motorway from junction 4 to 13 the wrong way!
I was therefore very late for the meeting of Barnoldswick Town Council. I got a spot of tea at about 10pm when I got home and was ready for bed very soon after.
Thursday 27 March
This was a first – Political Speed Dating in the Council Chamber. Students from Pendle Vale College had come to quiz councillors on things that concerned them.
Tough questions at the political speed dating
I started the meeting off by explaining what Pendle Council did, how it fitted within government and facts about our area. The speed dating was very interesting and I am sure we all learned a lot form listening to the students. They all said that they had been impressed with how the councillors answered them, which is not what some of them were expecting.
In the evening it was the full council meeting and as this is the last before the local elections it usually interesting to say the least. It mostly went well although some councillors went past their allocated speaking time and I had a difficulty getting them to wind up. I have not had to bang the gavel during my term and had no intentions of using it now – but I was sorely tempted. I wished the councillors who were retiring best wishes for the future. I had had to perch in the big Mayors chair, in my heavy gown and chains all evening until around 9.45, when the meeting finished, so I can tell you that I was rather tired by that time!
Friday 28 March
We received a nice letter from Lord Shuttleworth thanking us for the Earl of Wessex’s visit last week, remarking on the “absolutely splendid and vociferous welcome”.
We are met by the Head at Marsden Heights Community College
In the afternoon we visited Marsden Heights Community College where we were met the head, Mr Tull. He showed around what used to be Mansfield School site. The school is run as faculties including Discovery, Exploration, Communication, Realisation and Expression. The school is presently on two sites here and Edge End, Nelson until the new £20m+ site is built. The head showed us the impressive plans for the new school which is part of the schools for the future projects and is to be built on Bent Head.
I view the impressive plans for the new school about to be built
As there will be all new equipment on the new site, it is planned that the old school furniture will be shipped to Gujrat in Pakistan to help their schools.
Saturday 29 March
At 11pm we went down into Barnoldswick to the Pensioners Club on Frank Street for their Spring Fair.
We help drawing the raffle at the pensioners
I was met by the chair Peggy Witowski and other members of the committee. We had interesting chats with most of the people there and then said a few words, before drawing the raffle.
Chatting with some of the regulars at the Pensioners
There were over 40 prizes including chest perfume! From there we rushed over to Earby to meet the 1st Earby scouts at New Road Community Centre. The young scouts and sea scouts were acting as waiters for lunch.
We are smartly welcomed in Earby by the Scouts
They did an absolutely splendid job and the food was home made and very good. I managed to get around the tables to chat to the rest of the diners who all had interesting tales to tell.
We meet some of the committee members
We then managed to nip next door into the Earby Annual Bulb Show to have a chat with their committee members.
A great splash of colour from the bulbs
It great to see a splash of colour at this time of the year and it means that spring is on its way.
