Wednesday 10th July – I often wake early and this was one of those days! I got out my laptop and noticed that my Agenda and Reports had arrived for the next Planning Committee on 17th July. I always read the documents more than once so thought I’d have my preliminary read. It took quite a while as the Reports covered 60 pages! Anyway, I’ve got my first impressions and will study the Planning Applications in more detail later! At 10 a.m. I arrived at the Hyndburn Over 50s Forum which meets monthly at the Blind Institute on Bank Street. There were about 20 people present and the meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chair, Dorothy Westell. Although we have guest speakers and the occasional social event, the Forum is designed to highlight older people’s issues and see that they receive attention both nationally and locally. The Chair Lesley Jackson, the Vice-Chair Dorothy Westell and other Committee Members often represent the Hyndburn Forum at other meetings and conferences. Hyndburn Borough Council has also designated Councillor Colette McCormack as its Older People’s Champion – she also attends various events and liaises with different organisations to raise the profile of older people. Lately she has been most concerned with the concept of “Dignity” in old age. We would all wish that we and our family members be treated with the same dignity in old age as we were when younger, particularly by health and social care services. Some Forum members including Colette had attended the Pensioners’ Parliament on 19th and 20th June. Issues discussed were The Future of the State Pension, Dignity in Care, Pensioners in Devolution, Future of Concessionary & Public Transport, Protecting the NHS and Uniting the Generations. After our business meeting we enjoyed a very entertaining talk by Brian White entitled, “Stick Around”. Brian is a retired police officer and makes and collects unusual walking sticks, several of which he brought along. His talk was interspersed with jokes – good old Lancashire humour – that had us crying with laughter! We finished with sandwiches and cakes and chatted to other members. The next meeting is on Wednesday 14th August at the Blind Society, Bank Street, Accrington from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. There will be a guest speaker Norman Hindley talking about The Co-op Movement. If you’re over 50 and you think you’d be interested in joining the Forum, please just turn up on the day. There’s no charge but you can make a donation of 50p or £1 towards your lunch if you wish. Looking ahead, we are having an Older People’s Celebration Day Party on Friday 4th October from 10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at the Mill House, off Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors. The event includes lunch, a visual presentation on Local Heritage, entertainment by the Accrington Accordion Band, a quiz and a raffle. There will be a licensed bar. Tickets cost £10 per head and can be bought at McCormack’s, 39 Warner Street, Accrington – or phone Lesley Jackson on 01254 877135. Hope to see you there! An Oswaldtwistle resident, Mrs. Jean Gavin, asked if she could call round and see me in the afternoon. I’ve got to know her over the past few months and she very kindly brought me copies of the three books she’s just had published – “A Journey Round My Cottage”, “From Fun To Felony in Nineteenth Century Hyndburn” and “Murder, Madness and Mayhem”. Jean is a retired teacher and has painstakingly researched her local history. She’s not really into marketing yet but thinks the books are available from Amazon. She said that if I don’t have time to read the books while I’m Mayor she hopes I’ll find the time afterwards! I certainly will! In the evening I’d been invited informally to a House Group belonging to the Union Road Community Church. I was brought up at the original church building, John Street Christian Institute. Some of you may remember its successor, Melbourne Street, better. The Community Church now has a wonderful modern building with superb facilities right in the heart of our community on Union Road, opposite the TSB. Members also meet in small groups during the week to study the Bible, have discussions and to pray. The Pastor’s wife Linda, who is a Facebook friend, had invited me to one of the groups and suggested that I talk for a few minutes about my role as Mayor over tea and cakes at the end of the meeting. There were about eight of us present. The group had been studying the Book of Revelation for a number of weeks and this was the last session. It’s a very difficult book to study as it is a prophetic book dealing with what will happen in the future and at the end of time as we know it. Linda was following a study book and asked us some thought-provoking questions. Over refreshments I spoke a bit about my role as Mayor and gave them all a copy of the list of engagements I’d carried out so far. They were surprised that there were so many, especially when I explained that I still have my Councillor and other work to do as well! The group members said they had been praying for me every week and would continue to do so. They felt they were now much better informed about my role and the physical and mental stamina needed! I am grateful to them for their support and will hope to meet with them again on a future occasion.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:33:05 +0000
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