The new born lambs are in the field braving the strong winds and freezing rain, the daffodils are starting to show their vivid colours, the curlews are back with their piercing cries and the pheasants are starting their courting.
A winter view towards Barlick and SkiptonIn he afternoon we went into the Town Hall for the first day of the Walton Chess Competition run by John Belbin.
In the evening I attended the board meeting of West Craven Together at the new Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick. Funding for this project is like a large jigsaw but the effort that is put in to gaining these show some really positive achievements for west Craven.
Wednesday 12 March
At 10.00am we went to see how the new Pendle Vale School, which is presently being built, was coming on. It is costing around £30m but it looks to me to be worth every penny.
The facilities are extensive including a coffee bar, climbing wall, fitness gym, restaurant, lots of classrooms, a massive sports hall, (which looked like it could easily fit a jumbo jet), and a very big outdoor sports area.
We were kitted out in safety gear including wellies and then the site manager, together with the Head Teacher accompanied us around the massive site which is due to open in September. We were really impressed and I would expect children coming to this school would be able to be able to strongly develop and to go on to take big roles in their future. This new Pendle school is certain to win design awards when it is completed.
At 4pm it was back to the Town Hall for the second day of the Walton Chess competition. Today was for secondary school students. They were from Park High and Fisher-Moore schools. Again, excellent standards were shown and the senior winner was Joshua Wood from Park High for the second year running.
Joshua told me that his granddad taught him to play when he was 5 years old. Divas Bhandari from Fisher Moore School won the junior trophy.
Thursday 13 March
We had a royal visit today by Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex who was here to officially open Number One Market Street in Nelson.
We welcome Prince Edward to Number One Market Street
We had previously met the Princess last year, when as Deputy Mayor we had welcomed him to the Coldwell Centre on a really hot day in July.
Today children from lots of our local schools welcomed him. It was cold and wet day but the children gave a splash of colour waving their flags and cheering the Prince. He managed to find time in the busy programme to chat to some of them.
The children didn't seem to mind a bit of rain, as they got ready to greet the Prince
Inside Number One he was shown around the impressive facilities and to meet with some of the staff. I then invited The Prince to unveil the plaque to commemorate the opening. Everyone was pleased with the visit and it spotlighted the many big improvements that are now underway in Nelson town centre.
Friday 14 March
In the morning I chaired the monthly board meeting at my business in Nelson. Afterwards I nipped in to Nelson Town Hall to meet with a group of Palestinian women who were over to highlight their issues.
The Palestinian ladies liked our green fields but not our rain and cold
They all had caught a bug from not being used to our rather cold and damp air at this time of the year. We showed them our civic regalia and got them to sign the visitors book before leaving.
We then had a meeting to go through the Mayoral budget with council officers, which looks like we are just about on target. I asked for more umbrellas as the ones that use now could do with being replaced. I was told that we were now around the £10k mark in the Mayoress Charity Fund.
Saturday 15 March
In the morning we opened Likkle Monkeys a new children’s indoor play and party centre in Colne.
Opening Likkle Monkeys play centre in Colne
The business is run by June Smith and Susan Kelly and has been supported by a grant by Pendle Council.
Susan, June and Mark join us for a group photo
We cut the ribbon to open it and then went in for a look around the play areas accompanied with a big red monkey. After a short speech we chatted with some of the people that were there for the opening.
The little lad on the left wanted to get past in a hurry
They opening was very well attended and it looked very promising for the successful future of Likkle Monkeys.
In the evening we went to Brierfield Community Centre for a Charity Dinner organised by the young people of the town.
We receive a big cheque from the young people of Brierfield
The group of young men had been on a leadership course organised by Brierfield Action in the Community and agreed to hold the fund raising event. They had produced their own DVD to explain what they had achieved. We presented certificates to all them and received a cheque for the Mayoress’s Charities for over £500. We were very impressed with their commitment and I am sure that they will go on to greater things. I used to live in Brierfield for many years and still care about what happens there, I get my hair cut there so I still find out what is going on in the town.
Colne British Legion give us a nice welcome
From there we went along the The British Legion Club in Colne who were also raising funds for our charities. We met many of the club members and showed them the civic chains, which were first worn over 100 years ago in Colne. I was also shown the Croix de Guerre awarded to Gilbert Tempest as a young soldier who fought in the First World War who was well know in Colne.
Gilbert Tempest - 1898 - 1999
Born in 1898, Gilbert died in 1999 after living to the ripe old age of 100 and in his will he left his medals to the club.
