Garden Of Remembrance opening

Saturday 24th October
Remembrancetide has started in Longridge.

A punchy little ceremony with 2 prayers, a wreath laying and the exhortation with a few hardy souls gathered around the War Memorial in the drizzle has kicked off the annual commemoration of the fallen in service.

Dig deep folks and let's get a record collection in Longridge - we need a little over £1 per head of population to beat last year's record.

Lancashire Miscarriage Support Group

Friday 23rd October
When Jim Rogerson asked me to attend the Con Club on Friday night to judge a fancy dress competition I didn't really know what to expect - which sounds pretty dumb really seeing as how it couldn't be much more self expanatory could it?

What I really meant was that I didn't know what the cause was and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to attend. Lancashire Miscarriage Support Group does what it says on the tin but it is a new group and as yet unconstituted. We were able to offer some help and guidance in respect of all that formal stuff that often daunts volunteers who are really on interested in the work and not the bureaucracy and I wish the group all the very best for the future and reiterate our offer of help.

Child Protection issues prevent me from posting a pic of the youngsters in their fancy dress and instead I have included a photo of a brilliantly decorated cake that was being raffled. The detail and quality was superb and the photo doesn't really do it justice.

After quite a challenge Jim and I picked out a little Pumpkin in the juniors and a very scary witch from Oswaldtwistle as our winners for the fancy dress and we completed our duties by drawing what felt like a hundred raffle tickets - prizes galore.

Look out for more from organiser Ruth ....this is an organisation going places.

 

Longridge Cadets -Official Launch

Wednesday 21st October

Its official - the Longridge Cadets are now the real thing! Hon Colonel Lady Shuttleworth got a proper little shock to walk into the hall at St Cecilia's to meet the Mayor of Longridge only to find it was me - a friend and admirer already! Admirer because not only does she manage to wear fatigues and boots with typical grace but also because it is another job she does with style and aplomb in Lancashire.

Enough of the fawning!! Lieutenant Kelly has gathered a sufficient number of cadets in Longridge to warrant the formation of our own company and we were gathered to make the whole thing official. The Commandant Col Hilary Williams also made the special trip out to Longridge to be part of the proceedings accompanied by other senoir officers based at Fulwood. Many thanks to all.

Part of the launch was to present the company with a Standard that had not been used for a few decades. I am being deliberately vague about the language because there are technical expressions regarding Standards when they are not in use and particularly at this time of year I don't want to offend veterans. The thing to note is our cadets have a very smart Standard which will get an outing on Remembrance Sunday - well done to all involved with getting it back into use.

I hope that youngsters from all the schools in Longridge and elsewhere will get stuck in to this interesting, challenging and fulfilling hobby.    

CADET FUNDAY SUNDAY

Sunday 18th October 2009  

Last Years Mayor Hilda in paintball heist - NOT....4 out of 10 Mrs M??? She will be blaming it on the iffy weather that wasn't forecast but descended casting a damp gloom over what should have been a celebration of all things Army and cadettery (I know there is no such word but you know exactly what I mean!) on St Cecilia's field on Sunday.

We also played a version of table top football except that we were the players strapped to ropes running across the pitch...lots of fun when the man next to you weighs 4 stone and could be sprung about the arena like a swingball....I never did catch his name but he stayed on his feet despite my best endeavours!

Sadly not many people tipped up because of the weather but that meant that Hilda and I got to enjoy a compo ration breakfast - great if you like beans!

Watch out for an entry later on about the official inauguration of the Longridge Cadets on Wednesday this week. The good and the great and I will be there!!

Barnacre Road School - 40 years old

Wednesday 14th October

I'm just going to lift the relevant bit written by the headteacher for the weekly newsletter which tells all.

I would like to comment on what a wonderful evening we had in school celebrating the school’s 40th birthday. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces from both the past and present and in particular to meet Mr Waters, a former headteacher and my previous boss, Mr Leighton. Also it was great to see so many faces that I did not know and the obvious pleasure that people were getting reminiscing about their time at school. It’s been fascinating looking at all the many photographs and records about the school and how it has gradually changed and evolved over the years and it’s made me realise how places like Barnacre Road will always change and develop and that has to be for the good. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues and children for really pulling the stops out in preparing the school so that it looked so inviting and welcoming. I must mention and thank the Collier family, in particular Amy and Sarah who baked our birthday cake and also Mrs Karen Collier who baked an individual iced bun for every single child in the school. Both Amy and Sarah bake cakes for birthdays and occasions and they can be contacted on 782306.

I kicked the job off at 5 and was able to stay until just after 6 when I had to leave. I don't have a decent pic of the event but hope I might get sent one for this..........hint hint....!!!

Poppy Appeal 2009

Tuesday 13th October

Well I'm no Hayley Westonra but I did have the honour of chairing the annual meeting to agree the programme for the Remembrance Tide.

David Walmesley retired as the official organiser after 10 years and Mike Arnold was appointed to the post. Good to see Mike getting stuck in again and I'm sure with his flair for marketing the appeal will build on the previous successes. The profile that our Armed Services are getting as a result of the sad casualties being sustained in Afghanistan should make the appeal a no brainer for people to support this year and I shall be proud to turn out on the three occasions that we parade in Longridge.

We open the Garden of Remembrance on 24th October at 1100.
Remembrance Sunday parade leaves the Legion at 1030 on 8th November.
Act of Remembrance at 1100 on Wednesday 11th November at the War Memorial.

 

Meet a Real Mayor

Monday 12th October

What a giggle I had answering questions from two classes of year ones at Highfield Priory School in Fulwood.!!

Claire Field asked me along and had briefed me on the questions I was to expect. I think I disappointed them by not having a crown or special clothes or living in a castle. I was obviously a major flop for not knowing how many mayors there are in the world but I think I got a few points for letting them handle the bling!

This pic is a temporary post until I get a copy of the group photo that we just about managed to sort out.

FUNDRAISER - AN EVENING WITH BARRY MASON

Saturday 10th October

Barry Mason songwriter and Farah Mitchell and Hester Thompson

Not many knew what to expect when they gamely agreed to buy tickets for this concert in the Civic promoted by Rupert The Mayor of Longridge Productions! Debbie Watsons' Uncle Barry is a prolific songwriter and gets out and about occasionally for charity and we had the good fortune to secure Barry and his mate Don Gould (of the Applejacks) to entertain about 130 of us in aid of my charities.

Farah and Hester had the honour of sharing his stage to perform for us and the St Cecililia's Catering and Hospitality GCSE course did a brilliant job with canapes before the performance and at half time.

Trudi and Craig Burgess of Clearwater Music were brilliant supplying the PA and also looking after the mixing during the gig. Special thanks to Trudi for looking after the girls too.

Many thanks to all and especially to concert sponsors Debbie Watson, Des Draper, Helen Cartmell of Serendipity Floral Design, Wm Houghton Funeral Directors. My gorgeous mayoress was brilliant as ever too and put up with my typical last minute decision making and massive ego on the night when I bounced around like Tigger lapping up the limelight! We made just over £1,000 on the night and had huge fun too.

   Farah, Lisa from OJs, Barry and Julie from OJs.

If anyone else has any photos I'd love to publish more on here!!!

Cricket club dinner

Saturday 3rd October

Two nights on the trot at Ferraris - this time with Katherine for the annual Cricket Club dinner and presentation night.

Another big feed before a very snappy and ennervating awards ceremony. It was brilliant to hear how the first team have flourished under the new skipper and club man of the year Vinny Wilkinson and it even made me wonder about turning up for a net or two this winter to see whether there is some cricket in me! Maybe I've enough to do at the moment although next summer what will I do with myself?

Some very interesting dancing after dinner which I left to the Mayoress while I caught up with some old faces and met a few new ones too. Well done all and thanks.

Birthday party

Friday 2nd October
Mrs Swarbrick was working so I headed off to Ferraris on my own as a guest of the PTFA at a dinner to celebrate the school's 50th birthday. Good fun evening but a little disappointing to learn that only three parents answered the call to get the PTFA cranked up again last February - come on folks - many hands make light work !!

Was a black tie job and the bling looked very good but I didn't take the camera although there were photos being taken as we arrived. Will have to visit http://www.carolineholden.co.uk/ and see if there is a gallery of photos of the night!

I was a good boy and didn't overdo the pop but did manage to eventually drag the lovely Jane Green headteacher onto the dance floor to start the dancing. For a perfoming artist Mrs G was very backward at coming forward and I don't think she really enjoyed the shimmer much!!

Worlds Largest Coffee Morning

Friday 25th September

Macmillan Cancer Support hosted the worlds biggest coffee morning on Friday. Well Little Town Dairy at Longridge hosted a coffee morning whilst at the same time all over the country there were others doing the same thing!

The rain stayed off but the sun resolutely refused to shine and so whilst it remained dry it wasn't that pleasant but I got to open the job surrounded by a harem of ladies in green T shirts like the one Sue "Sunday Times Administrator of the Year 1995" Wharton is modelling here.

I had just done a drawing of Santa coached by artist Christopher Perkins but my version wasn't a patch on Anthony -just call me Rolf - Cowell. Well done to all the other stall holders too - I hope you had a good day and obviously a massive thanks to anyone who came and bought coffee. The hosts, Little Town never cease to impress me with their interaction with the community which is of course brilliant marketing and a big thanks to them also.

So how much was the event worth? Sue the organiser, rightly very proud, tells me that they raised a magnificent £1,500. BRAVO!!  

NEW BUSINESS FOR LONGRIDGE

4th September
I get a real buzz out of business success. At the moment that has to happen courtesy of other peoples triumphs but at least as mayor I can hang onto coat tails a little and help celebrate new business coming to Longridge.

The Mayor and his hair was pleased to do the honours for Ludlow and Co Financial Advisors (but please don't actually cut the tape!!) and in this picture is seen standing upright (despite the photographers best endeavours) between David Hardman - that'll be the bloke on the left of the picture, and Sarah Lees -that's the blonde one on the right. David and Sarah are directors of the new business that has formed as a result of their merger with Chris Dewhurst Financial Planning.

Longridge is buzzing at the moment and our market town competition is looking on with envy. We have plenty to offer and are proud of the Business group which has set out its' stall to promote the town as a place to do business. Check out http://www.longridgeonline.com/ and see for yourself !!

First Mayors Charities Coffee morning

THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER
There is a stalwart of self support in Longridge - actually there are loads but one immediately springs to mind when talking about coffee at the Civic Hall. My first nursery teacher Pam Cliff just can't stay away from the place on a Thursday and loads of Mayors in the past and I hope a load in the future benefit from Pams generous offer to run two or three coffee mornings for the benefit of the Mayors Charities.
3rd September suddenly appeared on the horizon and Swarbs was caught a bit napping really and hadn't organised enough cakes for the cake stall but with the collusion of Crossroads and his family he managed to scrape together a raffle table that just about held its own.

It was a quiet market that day but Crossroads came and I think interacted with a few potential clients and the Mayor hung about not really knowing what to do - there were so many capable ladies (and one very brave young man!) and pictured above are just three of the gang who helped raise a very respectable lump for the kitty. Special thanks to my lovely neighbour Mary Seed and her buddy Margaret Farmer for helping out too - and I won't MAKE you join the gym ladies...!! 

the next mayoral coffee morning is 26th November - raffle prizes, cakes and pie contributions gratefully received....07779 572663 or rupertswarbrick@uwclub.net

OJs End of Summer bash

Friday 28th August

After a little lull in Mayoral duties I found myself getting more involved in this party than originally anticipated.

OJ's (http://www.ojscare.com/) end of summer celebration was scheduled for 28th August and the weather did its' best to scupper the outdoor part of the Fun Day. So the night before I agreed to lend our party tent and on the morning of the event we set up a refuge from the impending torrential rain. Naturally during the party itself it remained dry and it was only when the extremely efficient team and I were taking it down did it rain and we got wet!

So after scooting off home and making myself look a bit more like a Mayor I re- arrived at Hillside School to find our local bobby, Paul Worsick, supervising a load of small people pretending to be the police in his van with the blues and twos activated and making a right racket!

Next to them was a climbing wall - highlights being Mr and Mrs Donoghue racing and the girls in purple gassing instead of climbing!

Indoors Leaping Liz struggled to compete with little Paddy karaoke king but no one seemed to mind and the parents were still talking about the magician an hour after he'd left!

I make no secret of my admiration of this charity and the team that Lisa has pulled together to provide such a valuable service for families with autistic children - congratulations to you all.

Clitheroe Mayors Proms Concert

Saturday 8th August

The weather stayed fine and the Clitheroe Town Band together with the Ribble Valley Choir entertained a big crowd in the Clitheroe Castle grounds.

The chain gang were out in force and it was good to catch up with some familiar faces as well as some new ones!

Thanks to Mary and the Clitheroe Town Council with special mention to flag seller extrodinaire red white and blue man Alan Yearing for tireless endeavours flogging dodgy Union Flag hats for the sing song bit at the end.

And a thanks too to Messrs Knagg and Shuttleworth for the photos...as is often the case at the moment I left the house without the camera even though it was right next to the car keys!!

100 yrs of Houghtons

Saturday 1st August

Bill and Nick Houghton hosted a small gathering at their interesting building opposite St Lawrence's Church in Longridge where I unveiled the new date staone that had been refurbished to commemorate Houghtons hundred years of funeral directors.

Some of the Longridge Partnership Heritage Committee joined the party and we risked becoming new clients of the hosrs when the Longridge News phototgrapher asked us to stand in the middle of Lower Lane for a pic!

This pic was taken from the safety of the pavement on the other side of the road which is why you can't see very much and illustrates why newspapers prefer their own photographer to be there!!

Sensory Garden - Belmont Care Home

Sunday 12th July

I bet there have been sharper Mayors on parade on a Sunday lunchtime! Still - a worthy cause close to my heart saw me help plant a tree and open the First Annual Summer fair at Belmont on 12th July.

Well done to Wendy Entwistle and her team for organising the day which was hailed as a great success.

Good to be on parade with the Field Day Queen, Pippa again and to bump into Keiran Spencer working as a care assistant.

Keiran gets a special mention from me for all his hard work in getting the new stone sign at the entrance to Longridge - we are working on getting the letters picked out but because they are raised no one wants to take responsibility for painting them!!

Goosnargh and Longridge Show

11th July

The chain gang were out in force - Preston, Ribble Valley vice, Goosnargh, Whittingham and Longridge and the MP......but El Presidente trumped us all on show day with the dapper suit and bowler.



Mr and Mrs Allan Proctor, stalwarts of the show through their interest in poultry over the years, welcomed a big crowd to the show field for an excellent day. We had a good lunch with the President and his guests.

Post show analysis reveals that the organisers are really pleased with the day and look forward to building on the success next year. Their website is now updated and worth a peek - http://www.glashow.org.uk/ . Take a good look and think about how you can get invloved next year - I will be!

Well done to the committee and your army - you know who you are...and another thing for the Mayor to gush about !!!

High School Sports Review of the Year 08/09

Friday 10th July
When Dad attends the awards night and Lauren gets the Year 9 Players Player of the Year Award for Rounders and he's at the bar when the trophy is presented he could be in trouble! Fortunately for Nick the Mayor was on hand to take a pic and promise to publish it on his blog!


What a fantastic night! I lost count of the number of young people that went up on stage but it was impressive.

And the number of teams that entered competitons and were runners up at least was awesome. (it's difficult coming up with new words for these superlatives!!). Well done to staff and parents for making such a huge contribution to the sporting year. All of you keep making me proud!

Anyway the Longridge News has done a big feature on this this week so grab yourselves a copy and have a look!

Thanks to the Head and Governors for making this a fun night out for the Mayor - I had been prepared to work for my beer and pie!!

Band Mid Summer Proms

Another belting night with the Band and Katie Ellis who led the singing in Land of Hope and Glory.

Bit of a sad moment too. Steve Tarry has been with the band a couple of years as conductor and had genuine ambitions to be in it for the long haul but an offer he couldn't refuse to work in Kuwait came up and he's off.

The band presented him with a pic of them all in various "tour" poses and I was proud to present to him a Town Council crest as a recognition from the people of Longridge for his time in front of one of our finest assets.

Well done all on another great year and thanks for the concert - Highland Cathedral got another airing and Twissy's solo was superb!!!

High School Performing Arts Charity Summer celebration

The High School is blessed with a music teacher who brings out the talent in a bunch of musicians like a Pied Piper!

Great to be invited to attend the summer term celebration - some of the numbers we heard before at Christmas but all had improved!

New offerings included the "massed choirs" of Rib St wilfreds and Goosnargh Primarys together singing a couple of songs (with actions) from a musical and two very young singers, Messrs Sanderson and Shields showing bottle and promise as soloists.

A swansong duet performance by leavers Janette Gornall and Danya Lewis rounded off a great evening - don't let the music go whatever you do ladies. Jane Green, the boss, thanked all involved and the Mayor heartily agrees!!!

High School Pupil Council

A quick dash into the Council Offices this afternoon to meet the High School Council. I didn't take the camera so this will have to be a dry old post!!

Good to meet a bunch of altruistic youngsters keen to help themselves and others to better their lives for no obvious and direct benefit apart from the glow. (and glow they were as the council offices were the warmest I've ever known them today - not necessarily because of the heat of the debate but from the unusually humid and growy weather!)

Service is a good thing and without it society wouldn't exist and our communities would be anarchic! Effective lobbying and negotiation is an art and I hope that we as a Town Council as part of the wider Longridge Partnership can work with you to help make your environment better.

Primary School Sports Week

Monday dawned a bit soon after a mad family week end and I was again on parade at Barnacre Road School.

This time it was to help kick off a week of Sport and Physical Activity as part of a national initiative to crank up participation in sport. Blessed with great weather the whole school assembled on the playground and along with Deepdale Duck took part in a warm up aerobics session - teachers and assistants and the lot!

Had a bit of bling competition though - paralympian cycling silvermedallist Rik Waddon came to school for the morning to show off his bling and answer questions .....I left him with inquisitive year 4s asking about his training regime.....here's me in my bling making sure he didnt get chance to trump me (in this pic at least!)

Well done to Mr Smith and all at school for getting stuck in this week. You make me feel distinctly inactive at the moment!

The Mayors Hair and a Food and Drink Festival

Stuart Hall graced Longridge with his diminutive physical but massive otherwise presence on Saturday. (he would have put it considerably more lyrically than that - a man as at ease with words as he is with people).

One of his business interests includes Lancashire Magazine which was a main sponsor of the First Longridge and District Food and Drink Festival hosted by Promac Leisure - AKA The Corporation Arms at Longridge.

The Town Council had also made a contribution and as a result I got to wear the bling again alongside our MP Nigel Evans as the official opening took place on Saturday morning.

By 11 oclock Mr Hall had readjusted the mayors' hair for numerous photos and a Radio Lancashire slot and I decided it was time for cider!! Shortly afterwards the sun came out and the cooking demos got going. Reports back from the organisers suggest that 1300 people attended over the 3 nights and 2 days and there is every chance that there will be another next year! I hope so!!!

visit http://www.longridgenews.co.uk/longridge-news/Longridge-food-festival-hailed-a.5420120.jp for the local papers take and better pic of the job too!!

Civic Sunday

With Ribble Valley alongside and Clitheroe tucked in behind it was the annual Civic Sunday parade around Longridge last Sunday. Just as thrilling for me was having the gang at the back of the parade. Family and friends from as far away as Kent (thanks Sal!) brought up the rear as we walked round the town - with me getting quite choked on occasions. Fortunately the rain held off (as it seems to have done on numerous occasions locally this summer) and we made it into Church dry! In the pic is a lady looking like a Cossack - grandma joined in for the parade in a minibus and then church - her 101 years seemingly irrelvant as the great feeling of the day took over!

The service had been designed to be as young people friendly as we dared hope without wrecking the formality. The interactive reading with the youngsters on the chancel steps was great and Tom Eckton and Sophie Watson did me, Barnacre Road Primary School and themselves proud in the second reading. The music was great and in a salute to last year's mayor the Band got the chance to play Highland Cathedral again - brilliant.

there will be more on this as some more pics arrive - I hope! we didnt take any as usual but felt that we were being papped a lot that day !!!

Mrs Billington is 100

Monday after Civic Sunday and the bling was out again. This time to help Mrs Billington in Pleasington Court celebrate her 100th birthday. The ageing process has been kind and a pretty sprightly lady made a grand entrance in the lounge at the St Vincents scheme where family and residents joined her for a toast tea and cake.

Happy Birthday Margaret!

Mayor Man

Tomorrow is Civic Sunday and a special friend can't make it up from Cornwall to be part of the proceedings. My mate Rufus sent me a card instead and it's brilliant - thanks old bean!

School midsummer fair

Dead chuffed to be asked to be at Barnacre Road school to present the prizes for the girls netball and the boys football competion yesterday.

I'm a governor there so it was even more special. Well done to all the organisers, parents and teachers and the young people too.

The weather held off until the prize presentation and did a good job of clearing the place.

Old Folks trip

Wednesday and its' pouring down but that isn't going to stop 80 or so over 68s (that is the qualifying age) assembling at the Civic for the annual Tradesmens sponsored mystery day out.


Mister Mayor was on hand to wish them a safe trip. I did a thorough search of the coaches and despite my best endeavours couldn't find the illicit alcohol stash. I was also disappointed that the back seats were not fully occupied and can only hope that the singing was going to be led from the middle of the coach.



Well done to the Tradesmans Association for running the event. You might not think 2 coaches is many when you recall there being 4 or 5 not that long ago but don't forget that the older generation is more independent and much fitter now than it was even 10 years ago. Keep up the good work - 80 folk have had a great day out...and now they are back I can reveal that they went to Chester!!

bit of a contrast

The day after Field Day and I find myself in Blackburn Cathedral for a bling gathering with the New High Sheriff of Lancashire, Susie Reynolds from Leighton Hall, the Chairman of Lancs Co Co the ever effervescent Alan Whitaker and a load of the borough chain gang from across the county. There were at least four of us mere town mayors, Longridge, Clitheroe, Garstang and Barlick too.

We were given a brief Hindley history of the Cathedral before assembling for a parade (probably called something else in a church - procession I expect!) in and then choral evensong in the presence of the bish himself and loads of other important church men.

Afterwards tea, cake and warm words in the crypt and then I whizzed home to make burgers for the BBQ for K when she finally got home from work at about 8.30!

Field Day 2009

What a great day we had for the Field Day! It wasn’t so hot that you couldn’t do anything but just right for a great day out!

Katherine and I had been round the decorated shops the night before and by the time we had made it to the Civic Hall to announce the results we had made our decision about third place! Mary Frances was a worthy winner (again!) and she is pictured here at the top of this post with the trophy.

Especially for You with Carol came second. We liked the sentiment – a woman’s work is never done! Actually Katherine really liked that and who would I be to disagree?

And we were happy to award third prize to Christ Church for their display which was a carry on of the Allo Allo theme they did with ADA on the float. And a Special Mayoral Mention to Mark Darbyshire for a magnificent garden – wonderful effort.

Well done the Field Day committee for having a judging panel for the floats. It took the pressure off because there were some brilliant efforts and I’m sure the Longridge News will do the parade proud pictorially! It was strange to be seated in a line outside the Con Club but once the cider had arrived we relaxed into the job and Mayoring became lots of fun!

The outgoing and incoming Show Queens were great - both spoke really well and confidently and their entourages did well too….Pippa – if you are a veggie and you don’t like cheese you are going to be hungry this year girl!!!

We were treated to two brilliant displays while we were being wined and dined ….the gymnastics club and Janet Sutcliffe School of Dance just seem to get better and better and it is wonderful that so many young people are engaged by these and other similar organisations. Shame my pride in Longridge was dented by the shabby behaviour in the centre of town later on in the evening. We really shouldn’t have to have that much police presence on a fun day out!! I like a drink (– really???) but why things should degenerate into aggressive anti social behaviour is beyond me…sharpen up guys!

The final presentation we made was to the Longridge Young Farmers. Worthy winners of a three rounder tug of war against the big lads of the White Bull this was a classic example of technique over brawn. Last years Mayor, Hilda had presented a challenge trophy and it was an honour to be the first to present her trophy. Hope you’re having a great trip in Australia.

We were going to be sensible after the parade and go home and have a quiet night! Hmmm – well let’s just say it was late again shall we? Lots of fun – thanks folks!

Ribble Valley Crossroads

Laura Grasby(manager), Gordon Rimmer (dep Mayor of Ribble Valleys consort), Tom McLean (chairman RV Crossroads) Lois Rimmer (Deputy Mayor of Ribble Valley), dishevelled me, and Stephanie Driver ( Crossroads development worker) at Longridge Market today 11th June.

Its official - Ribble Valley Crossroads is my second good cause for the year.

When I went to market this morning to collect the rents I wasn't expecting to be part of an official visit and wasn't properly turned out - no bling, jeans and in need of a shave didn't really afford the event the respect it deserved.

Ribble Valley Crossroads cares for carers. And it does it on our patch too. I didn't know anything about them until very recently and that's one of the reasons for supporting them this year. I wouldn't claim to know about everything that goes on in Longridge but I'd like to think I have a half decent grip and it made me realise that a bit of profile raising for them this year wouldn't go amiss.

I'm not going to go on in depth about what the charity does because you can find that out for yourself by visiting http://www.crossroads.org.uk/ . What it does do is nicely tie in with my other good cause OJ's (see previous blog).

So that's the good causes sorted - now we just need to raise a load of dosh and awareness! Awareness should be easy - it's a good cause and we know our way around the media. The money side is going to be a bit harder but we will have a go. Look out for news of a really exciting gig in the Civic on 10th October. The man that wrote Delilah for Tom Jones and loads of other really famous songs is coming to Longridge for the Mayor's Charities. Check out http://www.barrymasonsongwriter.com/ and look out for details of how to get tickets shortly.

Volunteer Week Celebration

The Big boss of Youth Services for Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, Carmel Fenning with Katherine and me with some of the brilliant young people who received awards at the Longridge Youth Club this afternoon.

If those in the picture would like to identify themselves in a comment please do!!

Mary the Mayor

So at last my gorgeous consort, the current Mrs Swarbrick (to borrow an expression from Terry Wogan) and I make it to a function together in our mayoral bling.

Mary Robinson is the new Mayor of Clitheroe Town and we attended the Civic Sunday Service and paraded round town. What a fantastic lot of regalia and paraphernalia that the County's second oldest borough gets to use on a formal occasion...

check out these halbardiers - thats the blokes with the spear things - sharp at the bottom and axe like at the top.!!

And a cheering thought about what we have in Longridge, when, as we were leaving a Clitheroe Town councillor congratulated us on what we have in Longridge at the Civic hall - "we've nothing like that here in Clitheroe!"........take a closer look Councillor - I think you're spoilt for choice!!

Pride

Right folks lets keep an eye on the place we live and have some civic pride!

The judges could and do come at any time unannounced and will be here on a couple of occasions during the summer. I'm sticking my neck out a bit by pointing out wonderful examples but one that has in the recent past shone out is the floral display outside the Townley Arms. You can't miss it being on Berry Lane and also on the way down to the Council offices - so councillors see it at least twice a month even if they don't wander about town at any other time!!

But the competition isn't only about floral displays. It is about making the best of what you have...and that includes general littering etc...

This one is short and sweet. . it's going to be a cold wet week end...let's hope that this is the rubbish bit of June before Field Day next week- end.

school

Being a governor of a primary school it isn't a formal appointment as Mayor but it kind of goes with the territory I guess. I have been involved with Barnacre Road School in Longridge for a little while and recently swapped from one sub committee to another.

Yesterday was my first meeting of the Staffing and Curriculum committee and I had an interesting afternoon. The tired old mantra about "nobody likes change" gets trotted out whenever there are difficult decisions and reorganisations to be made but if you thought about the expression for longer than the time it takes to say it you'd surely have to disagree! Nobody likes change when it doesnt suit them - but don't tell me that "nobody likes change"! Why go on holiday, move house, get married, have children? They are all changes that you have control over....

The point is that there have to be changes in organisations to make them work in the round. Schools are people places and the raw materials are , like the weather, fickle and - well - human! (the weather isnt human obviously but it is always changing!!) So next year some of the teaching staff are going to be in different places and it will be strange to start with.....but a month into the new term and that will be normal...

And surely this little vignette is relevant to us all.....life is for most of us about managing change - our own development (aging!?) and the environment around us and we have a general natural human urge to "make things better".

And that's a good thing .......so many people in their own way are making things better...and well done to us all!!

Over and out - time to earn a living!

What a really interesting afternoon I had with the gang up at OJ's at Hillside! In the extract from a charity website i found the rather dry words set out below

OJ'S SENSORY INTERACTION TRUST

Aims & Vision
TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF AND PROVIDE FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SENSORY INTERACTION CENTRES THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AND WALES WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE BY WHATEVER CHARITABLE MEANS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT

What of course this doesnt tell you is what the organisation is really about. Founded by one of those driven people that you meet occasionally the charity is aimed at not only engagement with the autistic child/children but just as importantly, to make their siblings feel wanted, loved, attended to and normal too.

On top of these obvious benefits i also got a strong sense of the value that the parents get from being with other parents of autistic children. Lisa donaghue, as founder, felt moved to provide support for families with autistic children because there was no such service in existence in the patch. Having spent time talking to the beneficiaries,( mainly the parents!) , it has made me even more determined to support this brilliant charity, not only with money but help in kind. Being in my position you get to know your way around a bit and by raising awareness of the sevice being provided by OJ's the organisation should thrive. Lisa needs a big lump of money in a hurry to be able to provide a fortnights respite service during the summer holidays - a time that I learned for a parent of an autistic childen is a real challenge and not the fun it should be! Lisa's contact details are on the press extracts below - if you can help do get in touch.

Well done to RVBC staff for helping out today, to the County for allowing the use of the school during half term and to all the helpers and anyone else involved - humbling efforts indeed.

There will be some press stuff about my visit and once again i didnt take my camera otherwise there would be a pic or two on here to liven it up!! In the meantime follow the link here to previous press coverage from an activities sesh at Easter.

http://www.longridgenews.co.uk/longridge-news/Easter-fun-for-children-with.5140173.jp

http://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/features/Autistic-children-enjoy-holiday-activities.5193304.jp


No official functions this week end so i might get a bit of work done! Enjoy the sun!!

28th May

Well last night was my second meeting officially in charge. Seemed to go ok but maybe there was too much laughter? That said if you can't have fun whilst being a councillor there isn't much point is there?

Didn't watch the footy but retired to the Dog Inn for beer and curry with a fellow councillor. We managed to put the world to rights and let's just say it was very dark by the time I got home!

The Borough is getting a bit of a kicking from Longridge at the moment and I hope that the good work that we have put in to improve our relationship with the "other end of the valley" won't be prejudiced by this. We seem to have a new confidence, and rightly so, here and maybe we have to guard against going overboard. That said I think we are right to be unhappy about the difficulties users have in accessing information on the RVBC website and that basically forms the core of our moan.

Some really good news to talk about soon but it was in Part 2 items last night which means the press and the public were barred form the discussion. I wouldn't be much of a Chairman if I blurted it out here would I? You will just have to watch the Longridge News for an announcement !!

Tomorrow I go to see the work of a new charity currently based at Hillside School called OJs'. really looking forward to meeting the team which works with autistic children. It's a bling outing but I'm worried that the chain will get damaged by the inquisitive youngsters....lets hope the weather does as it's forecast and we can be outside!

Putting my big tent up at Alston Hall tomorrow in readiness for a leaving do for Dot Little who has been there since God were a lad. The event is on Sunday and I hope she (and Fred) have a great day. If you dont know about Alston Hall follow this link...www.alstonhall.com

So lets see what happens shall we?
I started this to see if it will be a good way to tell everyone about what i'm upto this year as Maoyr of Longridge - our vibrant community 7 miles north east of Preston In Lancs.

this isn't a vanity thing - it's more to be able to share news of what's in the calendar, fundraisers and post photos and maybe comment on things I've been to. For example, last Friday I attended the launch of the Little Green Bus - a social enterprise based in Clitheroe but aimed at users in the whole of the Ribble Valley. Whilst sitting there in the mayoral bling next to Mary Robinson Mayor of Clitheroe I learned that once a week the Little Green Bus takes a full compliment of people to Fulwood Asda. And here's the Longridge Partnership and me who have been banging on about a Community transport scheme for Longridge since the second Action Plan and we didnt know about it!

So what's coming up? July 14th 1900hrs (7 o'clock beer time ) - lads Pampered Chef party for the mayoral charity OJs'. There seem to have been a few of these for the girls locally but I thought we could have one aimed at the lads and focus on BBQ cooking - because let's face it fellas, most of us are expert BBQ chefs but we have to use the cooking kit our gorgeous wives use, and believe me some of the Pampered Chefs kit is boys toys heaven! Watch out for confirmation of venue - 50 places only - free entry .....just come with your cheque books and remember that the more you spend the more the charity benefits and the more fancy cheffing clobber you get too!!