Mayor's Blog May 2009
Mayoral Blog 2009/10
Councillor John B. Sullivan JP, GNSM, LTCL
Welcome to the official Blog of the Civic Mayor of Tameside
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.
Hello again, well I have now completed my second week in office and what a wonderful experience it is turning out to be.
The Bank Holiday did of course bring the Annual Stalybridge Splash event to the town centre. The weather stayed kind for most of the day and a great time was had by all.
To round off the event, Francoise and I were invited to a Dinner in Stalybridge Civic Hall. It was a lovely evening and a fitting way to celebrate the continuing regeneration of the town.
On Tuesday morning I received an invitation from New Charter Housing 
to attend a European Neighbours Day Event at the Yew Tree Centre in Denton. European Neighbours Day is an initiative of the European Federation and is a practical way to help bring communities together. There were lots of things going on at the centre to do just that including a teddy bears picnic, a penalty shoot out with PC Ian Rowley, face painting and a tea dance for all ages. During the event, I was asked to make a special presentation of a memorial bench for the centre’s communal garden. The bench was presented in memory of Joe Middleton, a local resident and a much loved character who died recently aged 91 years.
On Wednesday lunchtime I took the opportunity to welcome some guests from my ward to the Town Hall before meeting students from Montigny-le-Bretonneux, Denton’s twin town in France. Imen, Déborah, Benjamin and Loïck will be working at the Council Offices over the coming weeks on work experience placements. All four students are studying to become assistant managers in small to medium sized companies and their four week placement here in Tameside forms part of their Assistant Management course.
Later, Francoise and I attended a photocall at Dukinfield Swimming Pool with members of the Xarifa Sub Aqua Club. The club has recently been awarded a Lottery Grant for just over £9400 and we were invited take part in a photocall to celebrate this success and to ‘hand over’ the cheque.
There were no Mayoral engagements on Thursday or Friday but on Saturday morning Francoise and I visited Hyde Town Hall for a Families Health and Wellbeing Day. The event had been organised by the Joint Health Improvement Team as part of their work to raise awareness and understanding of health and wellbeing issues particularly in minority ethnic communities. There was lots of information and guidance available on the day as well health checks and art based workshops to help improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle and state of mind.
In the evening we travelled over to the Bridgewater Hall for the Manchester Camerata’s season finale concert “Haydn the Innovator”. It was a wonderful night and a superb tribute on the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. The concert, devised by Music Director Douglas Boyd featured works spanning Haydn’s career. The evening paid homage to Haydn’s creative genius and beautifully demonstrated how he developed the symphony. It was a memorable evening for the orchestra and the perfect concert to end a very successful season.
Sunday was Whit Sunday and Francoise and I were delighted to be able to attend the traditional Whitsuntide services in Dukinfield and Newton in Hyde. It was heart warming to see so many people, particularly so many families taking part in the events which play such an important part in the history of our Borough. Long may this tradition continue!
I was pleased to accept this week an invitation from The Tameside & District Ex-Services Association to become President for the ensuing year. I feel very honoured to take on the role and look forward to working with such a worthwhile organisation.
That’s it for this week.
Thank you for joining me.
Best wishes.
Hello everyone and welcome to my very first Mayoral Blog.
On Tuesday 19th May I was officially elected as the Civic Mayor of Tameside for the 2009/10 Municipal year.
It was a very proud moment for me and my family and we are all looking forward to the year ahead enormously.
Following my Inauguration, it was straight to work the very next day.
My first duty as Mayor was a most pleasurable one as I visited Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge to pick out some new paintings for the Mayor’s Parlour.
We have some fantastic work within the Council’s permanent art collection and I really was spoiled for choice. I have tried to select at least one painting to represent each of the towns of Tameside with special emphasis of course on my home town of Hyde.
From here, I travelled over to Ashton Town Hall to welcome my first guests to the Mayor’s Parlour. Mr and Mrs Robert Shaw are relatives of a former soldier belonging to the Manchester Regiment. They have very generously donated medals to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment and it was my pleasure, on behalf of the Museum, to formally accept the medals into safekeeping.
On Wednesday evening I was invited to attend a Presentation Evening at Dukinfield Town Hall for candidates who have achieved qualifications in social care through the Council’s Vocational Training Centre. I was pleased to support the event and to offer my congratulations and good wishes to the recipients of awards.
On Thursday afternoon I welcomed 80 French children to the Town Hall! The children, aged 10 and 11 years, were from Armentieres and were visiting the Borough as guests of St Paul’s Primary School in Stalybridge. Because of the numbers, we were forced to split the party into 3 groups in order for them to be able to tour the Council Chamber, Museum of the Manchester Regiment and the Mayor’s Parlour. It was a great afternoon and the children really seemed to enjoy the experience.
On Friday morning I visited the Sainsburys store on Ashton Moss. Sainsbury are celebrating their 140th anniversary this year and I was invited to join a birthday party in store and to cut a celebratory cake.
Later, I attended a Citizenship Ceremony at Ashton Town Hall where myself and Professor Sam Moore, a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, were asked to offer civic greetings to the applicants and to congratulate them on their acquisition of British Citizenship.
I had no Mayoral engagements over the weekend and therefore was able to spend time at home with Francoise and Ben and to reflect on a very enjoyable first week in office.
Thanks for joining me.
Bye for now.