Mayoral Blog

Councillor Susan Quinn

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A Blog (or a Weblog) is an online journal/diary which is frequently updated with the author's thoughts and comments, and is intended for the general public to view.

Week Commencing Monday 19 December 2011

I am writing this blog as my last Mayoral engagement of the year comes to an end.

I have just had a wonderful evening in Ashton Town Hall with almost 100 of Tameside’s young carers. It has become a bit of a tradition for the Mayor to host a Christmas Party each year for this group of amazing young people who give so much of their own time to care for a disabled or poorly member of their family.

I was delighted to be able to help provide a night to remember and it was lovely to see them having such a good time. The event included a disco, party games, Christmas cocktails and even a visit by Father Christmas himself! I only hope the evening will just be the start of a very happy Christmas for them all.

At the beginning of the week, I was pleased to welcome Mr and Mrs Jack Crompton to the Mayor’s Parlour. Jack, who is President of Curzon Ashton Football Club  and a former Goalkeeper of Manchester United , celebrated his 90th birthday the day before. Councillor Dawson Lane, Assistant Executive Member for Sport, joined me in the Parlour and it was an honour for us both to meet Jack and his lovely wife, Sheila and to have the opportunity to extend birthday greetings and good wishes.

Later, I was delighted to attend the Hyde District Assembly Annual Senior Citizens Christmas Party ay Hyde Town Hall.

On Tuesday morning, I visited Hatton Grange Care Home  in Hyde to extend my good wishes to Mrs Mary Hemsley as she celebrated her 100th birthday and, on Wednesday afternoon, I welcomed to the Mayor’s Parlour a group of Council employees who had successfully completed the Tameside Manager Programme. Councillor John Taylor, Deputy Executive Leader of the Council, also attended the event in order to join me in extending thanks and congratulations to all.

And that brings my Mayoral engagements for this year to a close.

As this is my last blog of 2011, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

I would also like to thank everybody who has helped make this year so very special. I am grateful for the kindness, friendship and support that has been shown to me throughout the year and I look forward to recommencing my Mayoral duties in the New Year.

Take care.

With every good wish.

Week Commencing Monday 12 December 2011

Well Christmas is almost here and it’s been another festive and enjoyable Mayoral week.

Engagements began on Monday evening when I had the pleasure of welcoming guests from St Peter’s Youth  (SPY) to the Mayor’s Parlour. SPY and their Manager, Carl Kelsall are celebrating after winning awards at the Children and Young People Now Awards. SPY received the Youth Work award and Carl was crowned Children and Young People’s Champion after secretly being nominated by his colleagues. It was lovely to have the opportunity to meet the team and to offer my congratulations.

On Tuesday I attended the Phoenix Club Over 50’s Christmas Party at Droylsden Football Club and I also joined the Christmas celebrations at Haughton Green Young People’s Centre.

On Wednesday evening, I attended a beautiful Carol Service at the Bridgewater Hall  in Manchester at the invitation of CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

On Friday morning, I met with Father Alec Mitchell, the Borough Dean and Councillor Jackie Lane, Assistant Executive Member for Heritage and Tourism. Next year, Her Majesty the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee and, as part of the programme of events planned to mark this historic occasion, each of the ten authorities in Greater Manchester will be holding a special church service. Preparations for the Tameside event, which is to take place at Ashton Parish Church  in March, are being led by Father Alec. It was good to have the opportunity to discuss the service and to have an input in what promises to be a very special and memorable event.

Later, I had a lovely afternoon at the Grafton Centre  Christmas Party in Hyde and, in the evening, I was delighted to attend the annual Carol Service at Yew Tree Community Centre in Denton.

On Saturday, Kieran and I were pleased to join the team at the Park Café in Hyde for their Christmas Carol and Festive Food event. The day included Santa’s Grotto, carol singing, delicious food and Christmas fun for all the family.

On Sunday evening, we were invited to two Carol Services in Dukinfield. The first event, at Old Chapel, was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester . The Church was lit by candles and it really was a very beautiful and moving service. From here, we dashed down the road to Dukinfield Town Hall for the Annual Festival of Christmas Music at the invitation of The Yew Tree Singers and The Adamson Military Band . The hall was full to capacity and the choir and the band were both magnificent, it was the perfect way to end a very enjoyable week.

And that’s it for now.

Thank you for joining me. I hope to see you again soon.

Best wishes.

Week Commencing Monday 5 December 2011

Well it’s been another busy week as Christmas quickly approaches.

On Monday morning, I was invited to a Christmas Show at Hyde Clarendon College . The show was funded by Hyde District Assembly and organised and performed by the students of the college for the schoolchildren of Hyde. It was a terrific event and everybody had a fantastic time. The children definitely got into the spirit of things and enjoyed interacting with the cast.

Later, I visited Hatton Grange Care Home  in Hyde to help celebrate the 104 birthday of Mrs Nellie Lyne and then, in the evening, I was pleased to welcome a second group of guests from West Villa Mental Health Information Resource Centre to the Mayor’s Parlour.

On Tuesday morning, I joined the Hattersley Forum Community Association  at their Annual Christmas Pantomime “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”. Once again, it was a brilliant show put on especially for the local schoolchildren and everybody had a wonderful time.

In the evening, I attended a Meeting of Full Council which also included the Executive Leader of the Council’s Annual Keynote Address.

It was Christmas parties on all the way on Wednesday when I had the pleasure of attending events organised for the Borough’s older people in Hattersley, Denton North East and Dukinfield. All three parties were very well attended and it was lovely to be able to join the festivities and to have the opportunity to extend my good wishes.

On Thursday afternoon, I was pleased to attend a Citizenship Ceremony at Dukinfield Town Hall and, in the evening, I returned to the Town Hall once again for the inaugural Pride of Tameside Youth Achievement Awards. The awards, sponsored by Tameside College  and Tameside Council, are a new initiative to raise awareness and to celebrate the achievements of young people in our Borough. It was a fabulous evening and I felt very honoured to take part. It was wonderful to see so many young people receiving awards and I am delighted that their efforts have been recognised and rewarded with such a prestigious event.

On Friday morning, I was invited to present the Professional of the Year Awards organised by Our Kids Eyes . These annual awards allow parents and carers the chance to acknowledge the committed and hardworking professionals who prove time and time again that they are willing to go that extra mile to make a positive difference to the lives of families with special needs children.

In the evening, I was pleased to attend a Christmas Carol Service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints  in Ashton. At this annual event, guests are asked to take along a gift for a needy child. The gifts are then distributed afterwards by local charities.

On Saturday morning it was Pantomime time once again when I attended a fun filled performance of Dick Whittington and His Cat at the Concord Suite in Droylsden, presented by Tameside Council in association with Pendle Productions and then later, I headed over to the George Lawton Hall to join the members of Mossley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society  for their uplifting and extremely professional production of High School Musical.

On Sunday afternoon, I attended the Willow Wood Hospice  `Light up a Life’ Service at Albion Church  in Ashton. Each year, our local hospice invites people to sponsor a Christmas tree light in celebration of a special life. In total, seven Willow Wood Christmas trees can be found in towns across Tameside and Glossop. Many of the lights are dedicated in memory of loved ones who have passed away or who will be away from home at Christmas time. Willow Wood then hold two Celebration Carol Services, one in Tameside and one in Glossop, to dedicate these special Christmas trees. It was a very emotional service and I was pleased to lend my support.

To bring the week to a close, on Sunday evening, I was delighted to attend another very special Carol Service, this time at Ashton Parish Church . It was a lovely service and the church looked beautiful, I understand this is the one occasion of the year when the church is lit only by candles.

And that ends a very festive and memorable Mayoral week.

Thank you for joining me and I hope to see you again soon.

Best wishes.

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