Mayor's Blog - July 2007
Mayoral Blog 2007/08
Councillor Michael Smith
July 2007
My official duties started on Tuesday this week with a visit to Tameside Hippodrome. Teresa and I popped in to meet the young people involved with this year's summer theatre workshop and what a great bunch they are! The group are busy putting together a production of Annie. They are doing a fantastic job and Teresa and I can't wait to see them on their opening night on Friday 10 th August.
It was a very early start on Wednesday as we joined members of the North Tameside Scout Council on the steps of Ashton Town Hall at 8am. Past and present members of the Scout Association came together to renew their promise to mark the Scout's Worldwide Centenary Celebrations. It was a great occasion and it certainly brought back memories for a lot of people.
From there Teresa and I shot off to Portland Basin with our Deputies Steve and Betty, to welcome the Civic Heads of Greater Manchester. Traditionally, the Mayor of Tameside offers an invitation each year to the Mayors, Mayoresses and Consorts of neighbouring authorities to spend the day in our Borough. It allows us the opportunity to promote Tameside and to 'show off' some of our places of interest. I was very proud to be able to escort my guests around Portland Basin Museum, Setantii Visitor Centre and the Museum of the Manchester Regiment. We even took a short boat journey along the canal. It was a glorious day and I am pleased to say the visiting Mayoralty were suitably impressed.
Following a Members training session, I put on my chain of office again to join the Tame Valley Scouts in Armentieres Square in Stalybridge as they renewed their Scouting Promise at 7pm.
On Thursday I was pleased to welcome to the Mayor's Parlour representatives from the Tameside Branch of Gideons International. I was honoured to receive a presentation Bible that had been specially inscribed to mark my year in office. I was also pleased to welcome Mrs Maureen Grundy and representatives of Haughton Green Young People's Centre.
On Saturday Teresa had a great time when we joined Councillor Bill Harrison, the Chair of the Ashton District Assembly, at the annual Black Knight Pageant in Ashton Town Centre. It was a fabulous day with lots of entertainment and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
On Sunday, Teresa and I had a family commitment and therefore Steve and Betty kindly represented us at the Tame Valley Vintage and Classic Car Club's A6 Charity Run.
It has been another busy and enjoyable week and we are grateful to everybody who has helped make it so memorable.
Thank you all.
See you next time.
I started the week off Monday with two engagements. First of all I attended the official opening the Orange Tree Natural Health Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne and then I welcomed guests to the Mayor's Parlour from Central Estate in Dukinfield.
The residents from Central Estate have once again come together and worked incredibly hard for Tameside in Bloom and I felt they deserved a big thank you for their efforts.
On Tuesday evening I attended the Annual Evening of Achievement at Russell Scott Primary School and on Wednesday I was pleased to meet two contingents of Japanese Scouts.
The scouts were in the Borough en route to the World Jamboree in Chelmsford and I was pleased to be able to meet them and extend a warm welcome to the Borough.
It was a very important day for Tameside on Thursday. Back in April this year, the Council awarded the Freedom of the Borough to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. At that time, the 2 nd Battalion was serving in Iraq and it was determined that celebrations would be put on hold until their return.
On Thursday, to celebrate receiving the Freedom of the Borough and their return home, the Regiment exercised the right, privilege and honour of marching through the streets of Tameside with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying. It was a very proud day for the Borough and a day I will never forget.
Also on Thursday, I attended a special service at St Anne's Church in Denton to welcome the new Minister, The Reverend Alec Mitchell to the parish.
On Friday, I attended a farewell assembly at Globe lane Primary School in Dukinfield and also the re-launch of Blocksages Youth Centre.
On Saturday, I joined other Civic Heads at Platt Fields in Manchester for this year's Summer Mega Mela and on Sunday Teresa and I attended the final performance of “On Top of the World” at The Lowry.
For the past 12 months, young people from Denton, Hattersley, Hollingworth and Stalybridge have been working with professional singers, MCs, drummers and instrumentalists, to create a selection of new music aimed at celebrating and nurturing local talent. The project gives young people a voice and allows them to express themselves through spoken-word, beat boxing, singing, percussion and MC-ing. On Sunday we saw the culmination of this project with a final performance.
It was a fabulous evening and my sincere congratulations and thanks go to everybody involved.See you next time.
We had a tremendous start to the week. On Monday Teresa and I, accompanied by our Deputies Steve and Betty, travelled down to London for the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace the following day.
We spent a lovely evening at the House of Commons with our local MPs Andrew Gwynne and David Heyes.
On Tuesday, we took the opportunity to do a little bit of sightseeing before attending the Garden Party. We had a wonderful time and we all felt very honoured to be representing the Borough on such an important occasion.
On Wednesday, Steve and Betty covered Mayoral engagements whilst I attended to Council business and then on Thursday I was delighted to be able to welcome the North West in Bloom Judges to Tameside before they set off on their tour of the Borough.
Tameside has a wonderful track record in the competition and of course we are all hoping for continued success. The 'In Bloom' Team have certainly done a wonderful job and they should feel very proud of their efforts.
I then met with Mr David Wilson OBE DL, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and Honorary Consul for Iceland followed by a meeting with Captain Robert Bonner, the Chairman of the Manchester Regiment Museum.
The same day, I attended a performance by Year 6 children at Denton West End Primary School. The children did ever so well and it was the perfect way to round off the school year and for them to bid farewell to Denton West End.
I also attended the Denton and Audenshaw District Assembly.
On Friday evening, I attended the Second Annual Tameside Primary School Catering Service Awards at Dukinfield Town Hall. It was a pleasure to meet the team and I was delighted to support the event and to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of the School Catering Service
On Saturday, the bad weather couldn't stop the Hollingworth Carnival. I am pleased to report the show still went on and what a great day it was. Sincere thanks to everybody who helped organise the event.
Following the carnival, Teresa and I headed over to the Droylsden Water Adventure Centre to help celebrate its 30th anniversary. It was lovely to be able to meet the young people and staff and to offer our congratulations on this special anniversary. We even had a birthday cake to mark the day.
On Sunday morning, Teresa and I attended a Thanksgiving Service at St James Church at the invitation of the 3rd Ashton Scout Group. We then participated in the closing ceremony of the 2007 Cancer Research Relay for Life at Richmond Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. It was a very moving ceremony and I would like to pay tribute to all the people who took part in the relay but I would especially like to mention the 'survivors' who did their very own lap of honour and who showed such remarkable courage and determination.
To end the day, we moved on to Manchester Cathedral for the Annual Church service of the Greater Manchester County Royal British Legion. It was a lovely service which also commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War.
We have a lot to look forward to next week including a Freedom Parade on Thursday, when The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will march through the streets of Tameside in celebration of receiving the Freedom of the Borough and also to mark its return from operations in Iraq.
See you next time.
It has been another busy and enjoyable week.
On Monday I had the pleasure of waving off the annual Convoy of Happiness as it set off with poorly children for a fun filled day in Blackpool. It was a wonderful sight to see the convoy of stretch limousines as it pulled away from Ashton Leisure Park and the children's faces were a picture - I am sure it will be a day they will never forget.
Also on Monday, I welcomed to the Mayor's Parlour a group of young people from the Youth Base in Droylsden.
On Tuesday, I was honoured to be asked to officially open the new Sports Cage at St John Fisher RC Primary School in Denton. The Cage has been a partnership project between the school and the newly formed Denton South Partnership and funded by the Safer Stronger Communities initiative. The Cage will be used by the school and also by the local community and is already proving to be a big hit.
Later the same evening, I attended a Homecoming Party for the young people who participated in the Greater Manchester Youth Games.
On Wednesday I was pleased to call in at the Greater Manchester Mini Games at Trinity High School in Manchester. I had the opportunity of meeting the Tameside representatives and it was great to be able to cheer them on. They did ever so well and I was immensely proud of them all. Later, I welcomed guests from Droylsden to the Mayor's Parlour.
On Thursday I attended the Tameside Healthy Schools Awards at Dukinfield Town Hall and was pleased to present the prizes. I also attended a Reception in honour of the Fairfield Volleyball Team. The team recently won the English Girls Schools and Colleges Championships and Ian Smith and I were delighted to throw a reception in their honour. We also made a presentation to the team's volunteer coach, Mr Richard Jump who has worked so hard with the girls.
On Friday, I represented the Borough at the funeral of the Mayoress of Wigan, Mrs Hazel O'Brien JP. Hazel sadly lost her long and brave battle against breast cancer last week. She was a wonderful character and she will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are of course with her husband John and their family at this very difficult time.
On Friday evening, I attended the Borough's Annual Open Art Exhibition at Astley Cheetham Art Gallery. We certainly have a wealth of artistic talent within the local community and it was lovely to see the work on display.
On Saturday the day began with a visit to the Town Hall by the 12th Ashton Beavers Group. From there Teresa and I visited Manchester Road Primary School in Droylsden to join in the school's special centenary celebrations and later the same day, we attended the Well Dressing Blessing Service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Charlesworth.
On Sunday, we visited Old Chapel in Dukinfield for a special service as part of the chapel's 300th anniversary celebrations. We then went on to Haughton Green to call in at a Family Fun Day at the Young People's Centre. And finally on Sunday, Teresa and I joined the ladies of the Gee Cross WI at their Annual Well Dressings. Despite the bad weather, I am pleased to say the show still went on and a wonderful day was had by all.
See you next time.
Teresa and I have enjoyed another fabulous week.
On Monday I attended a Presentation Ceremony for Council Staff who have achieved the Institute of Customer Service Award. The ceremony was held at Ashton Town Hall to celebrate the hard work and success of those involved.
The same evening, Teresa and I welcomed representatives of the Tameside Junior Accordion Band to the Mayor's Parlour. The band was recently awarded 1 st place in the UK Accordion Championships and Teresa and I invited the musicians in to offer our sincere congratulations on their success. We were even treated to a small programme of music which was absolutely fantastic.
On Tuesday, His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex visited Old Chapel in Dukinfield and I was very honoured to be part of the official welcoming committee. Unfortunately Teresa could not attend because of her work commitments but I was delighted to be able to take my mum along on this important occasion. His Royal Highness attended a special service at the chapel to mark its 300th anniversary year. It was a lovely afternoon and very well organised.
On Wednesday evening, I attended the North Tameside District Scout Council Annual General Meeting where I was delighted to be installed as President of the Scout Council for the ensuing year.
On Thursday I was paid a courtesy call by the President of the Jewish Representative Council in Manchester and some of her Honorary Officers. This was followed by a visit to the Mayor's Parlour by residents of Park House Sheltered Housing Accommodation in Droylsden.
I then chaired a meeting of the Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel before welcoming to the Town Hall, the Tameside citizens who received recognition in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
There were no Mayoral engagements on Friday for me but on Saturday I attended a Tropical Beach Party/Family Fun Day at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I was also very honoured to open this year's Tameside Canals Festival at Portland Basin .
On Sunday, Teresa and I attended a luncheon in Knutsford with the other Mayors and Mayoresses of Greater Manchester at the kind invitation of the High Sheriff. It was a lovely afternoon and it was good to catch up with the rest of the `Chain Gang'.
See you next time.