Mayor's Blog October 2008
Mayoral Blog 2008/09
Councillor Jack Davis
Welcome to the official Blog of the Civic Mayor of Tameside
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Engagements were somewhat quieter this week, I think mainly due to the school holidays.
Although I had several business meetings at the start of the week, my Mayoral engagements didn’t start until Wednesday when I attended a photocall at Tameside Home Services to help promote their good work. The organisation was designed to respond to the growing need to develop a high quality and responsive home cleaning, shopping and laundry service.
Home services can provide assistance with a range of practical and social tasks enabling people to make choices about how they spend their time and to continue living independently within their own home. The service is supported by Tameside MBC and can be used on a regular basis or as the need arises.
Later, Carole and I joined members of the local Hindu Community at the B.A.P.S. Shri Swaminarayan Temple on Russell Street in Ashton to celebrate Diwali and the Hindu New Year.
On Thursday, we called in at the annual Kick Racism Out of Football Festival at Tameside Stadium. The event had been organised to bring together people from different cultural and ethnic communities from across Tameside and to encourage a greater understanding and awareness of community integration and cohesion through the medium of football. We had a great time and it was good to have the opportunity to chat to some of the young people taking part. It was especially nice to meet England Ladies Footballer, Sue Smith who came along to support the occasion.
On Thursday afternoon, Carole and I attended a Citizenship Ceremony at Dukinfield Town Hall. For the first time we were joined at the event by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mrs Edith Conn. The High Sheriff’s presence, as the official representative of Her Majesty The Queen, made the occasion even more special for the Borough’s new citizens and we were grateful for her support.
On Friday lunchtime, we travelled over to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester for the GMMAZ Company Launch and Reception.
GMMAZ is a dynamic not-for-profit company that delivers music projects with children, young people and artists. Ranging from MCing, singing and music technology through to masterclasses with international artists and innovative multi media projects, GMMAZ has over the past six years worked with over 8000 children and young people from a diverse range of communities throughout Greater Manchester. It was a very interesting afternoon that gave Carole and I the opportunity to learn more about the company and also to listen to guest speakers The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Richard Stilgoe OBE.
On Saturday afternoon, we were invited to the Official Opening and Dedication Service of the new church building at Droylsden Methodist Church. It is a fantastic building and the service was lovely. From here, we travelled over to Curzon Ashton Football Club 
for a Charity Match in aid of Children in Need. A team from the ASDA Store in Ashton donned their football boots to play the ladies from Denton Town FC . Carole and I had the opportunity to have a quick word with the teams before Kick Off and then we had the pleasure of starting the game. Although we then had to leave, it promised to be an entertaining match and I hope everything went well.
On Sunday morning, we were pleased to attend a special service at St John’s Church in Dukinfield to formally open their Mountain Bike Motivation Community Project.
The project has been working in the community for just over a year. The aim is to provide a diversion to direct young people away from anti-social behaviour and to promote a positive relationship between adults and young people. The project is designed to engage young people using mountain biking as a primary activity and whilst encompassing navigation skills, map reading, first aid, group work, social skills, communication, bike mechanics, physical fitness and healthy eating. It is a really worthwhile programme that certainly seems to be working in this area and Carole and I both wish them every success for the future.
And that just about brings another week to a close. Next week is Remembrance Sunday and then immediately after we start our Christmas Lights Switch on Ceremonies throughout the Borough, so things are certainly going to get pretty busy. I hope you can join us.
Best wishes.
Official duties began on Monday evening this week, when Carole and had the pleasure of welcoming Tameside’s Young Ambassadors for Sport to the Town Hall.
Each year until 2012, School Sport Partnerships across England will recruit young people to take on the role of Young Ambassador for two years. In their first year, they work in their local communities championing sport and the ethos and values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement. In the second year they take on a mentoring role with the new Young Ambassador intake.
By the time the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games reach these shores in 2012, more than 5,000 young people from across the UK will have been through the Young Ambassador programme, which is managed by the Youth Sport Trust on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Half of all the Young Ambassadors, which this year will total 898, are selected due to their sporting talent, while the other half are chosen due to their outstanding commitment and ability as young leaders or volunteers.
Carole and I enjoyed learning more about the programme and meeting the young people involved.
There were no Mayoral engagements on Tuesday but on Wednesday morning, I was pleased to join Councillor John Taylor at the Tameside Training Consortium Annual Conference at Dukinfield Town Hall.
There are 75 organisations within the consortium, service areas include Residential and Nursing Homes, Homecare, Supporting People, Assistive Technology, Cleaning Services, Meals on Wheels, Daycare and Independent Budget Holders. The consortium is open for membership to any organisation who has an involvement with care in the Tameside area from the private sector. Attending the conference were managers from the private and independent care sector who will share the information with their staff members and also private training providers who contract with the consortium to the private care sector. The event was interesting and well organised and I was pleased to lend my support.
On Thursday evening, Carole and I attended the Annual Prize Giving at All Saints Catholic College in Dukinfield where I was invited to assist with the presentation of certificates to students. It was a very pleasant evening and both Carole and myself enjoyed meeting the staff, governors and students.
On Friday afternoon, I hosted a meeting for the Trustees of the Burton and Heginbottom Charity in the Mayor’s Parlour. The Charity was set up in the 1930's from the residue of the will of Mrs Burton of Warren Lea, Ashton-under-Lyne to benefit the elderly of Ashton.
A notice appears towards end of October in the local newspaper each year inviting residents of Ashton who are over 70 to apply. Successful applicants receive a voucher which can be used at a small number of clothing shops in Ashton Town Centre. Trustees include the Mayor of Tameside and Ministers of the Parish and Methodist Churches.
Later, Carole and I put on our dancing shoes and headed over to Haigh Hall for the Mayor of Wigan’s Civic Reception. It was a lovely evening with good food and excellent company and I am sure the Mayor of Wigan enjoyed her special night.
Unusually, we had no engagements over the weekend so we spent the time at home relaxing and recharging our batteries before the busy build up to Christmas.
Thanks for tuning in, I hope to see you next time.
Kind regards
The week started on a high when Carole and I had the pleasure of welcoming residents from Birchfield Sheltered Housing Accommodation to the Mayor’s Parlour on Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, we were delighted to host a Civic Reception for the Borough’s sportsmen and women who attended this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing. I am sure many of you, like me, were glued to the television set in the summer cheering on our athletes and wishing them well. They all worked so hard and achieved so much, they were an inspiration to us all and the Council felt it only fitting to recognise them at a special reception in the Town Hall. We were honoured to welcome athletes Michael Harvey, Heather Corrie, Michael Churm and Ian Jones, along with physiotherapist Tim Ryan and to congratulate them on their efforts.
Although I was busy for most of the day on Wednesday with business meetings, I had no Mayoral engagements.
On Thursday evening, I attended an Evening of Achievement at the invitation of Tameside College. The event was held at Dukinfield Town Hall and I was asked to assist with the presentation of certificates to students. It was a very pleasant evening and I was pleased to lend my support.
On Friday, I hosted a Charity Dinner and Dance in the Town Hall in aid of my Charity Appeal Fund. Although, I was a little disappointed with the ticket sales, it was a great night and everybody seemed to enjoy the occasion. I am pleased to say that over £600 was raised for local good causes.
On Saturday evening, Carole and I were invited to The Armoury in Ashton by members of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regimental Association King’s and Manchester Regiments (Ashton Branch). It was the association’s 10th annual Passchendaele Dinner, a commemoration of one of the major battles of World War I. We shared a lovely evening in very good company and Carole and I were grateful for the kindness bestowed upon us.
On Sunday, we attended the Annual Trafalgar Day Concert at the Irish Club in Ashton courtesy of the Royal Naval Association (Droylsden Branch) and Tameside & District Ex-Services Association before joining this year’s Diwali celebration outside the Town Hall.
I am pleased to say this event has become a regular fixture in the Tameside calendar as the Council continues to carry out its commitment to celebrate cultural events and to work in partnership with members of the local community. As always it was a spectacular evening which included stage performances, a lantern parade to the Indian Community Centre and a firework finale. A wonderful way to round off another memorable week.
See you next time.
Kind regards.
Mayoral engagements started on Tuesday this week when Carole and I were pleased to visit Fast-Pak Packaging in St Peter’s Ward, Ashton-under-Lyne.
The purpose of the visit was to help recognise the company’s 15th full year of operations and celebrate its growth and development. As we toured the company and met ‘the team’ it was amazing to think that when Fast-Pak was established in 1992, it started with just two people operating from a garden shed! Today it is a multi-million pound business employing around 40 people – a true success story.
Carole and I had a lovely afternoon and we were delighted to have the opportunity to offer the company our congratulations and to unveil a plaque to commemorate the occasion.
There were no ‘official’ duties on Wednesday but on Thursday afternoon we were pleased to offer a warm welcome to the Mayor’s Parlour to children from Buckton Vale Primary School in Stalybridge. The children won the coveted Hyde Seal Trophy after beating 27 other teams in a Swimming Gala for the Borough’s Primary Schools. We presented the school with a beautiful trophy, a model of the Hyde Seal statue outside Hyde Town Hall, in recognition of their achievement.
On Friday morning, it was my pleasure to formally open the World Mental Health Day event in Ashton Town Hall.
World Mental Health Day is celebrated each year on the tenth of October and is an internationally recognised day dedicated to promoting mental health and wellbeing around the world.
In true Tameside style, the Borough had spent the whole week marking this important occasion and raising awareness of the services available. A great deal of time, effort and thought had been put into the event and I offer my thanks and congratulations to everybody involved.
On Friday evening, Carole and I were delighted to welcome to the Town Hall the Mayor and guests from Champagnole in France. Champagnole is Dukinfield’s twin town and this year marks the 50th twinning anniversary. A party of approximately 15 people have travelled over from France as guests of the Dukinfield Twinning Committee to celebrate this wonderful milestone. As the visitors had literally just stepped off a plane, we couldn’t think of a better way to welcome them than with a good home-made meat and potato pie. It certainly helped warm them up and I think everybody was suitably impressed.
We met up with our French guests on Saturday morning, when the Mayor of Champagnole and myself jointly unveiled a signpost outside Dukinfield Town Hall to commemorate the 50th twinning anniversary.
Carole and I then proceeded to The Keyhole Centre in Stalybridge, leaving our visitors with a full day of activities to enjoy.
The Keyhole Centre is home to the RASH Community Forum and Carole and I were pleased to be invited to attend their 5th anniversary celebrations. There were lots of events and activities taking place and I felt very honoured when asked to plant a tree to commemorate the occasion. We had a lovely time and would like to extend our thanks and best wishes to everybody who helped make the visit so memorable.
From here, we made our way over to Denton Festival Hall for the annual Tameside (Denton) Art Society Exhibition.
It was a wonderful display of work and we obviously have many talented artists within our local community.
Later, Carole and I joined the visitors from Champagnole once again for a special concert at Dukinfield Town Hall. It was a splendid night and the guests certainly enjoyed the entertainment courtesy of the Friezland Band and the Yew Tree Singers.
On Sunday morning, myself and the Borough Solicitor joined the other Civic Heads of Greater Manchester at Manchester Cathedral for the annual service for HM Judges and all those associated with the administration of justice. This traditional service marks the beginning of the new Legal Year. It was a very grand occasion and a memorable day for everybody involved.
And that brings another week to a close. Thanks for tuning in.
That’s it for this week. Thanks for tuning in.
See you next time.
Best wishes.