October already

by davidridgway on 4 October, 2012

Well, here we are.  October already and I’ve survived almost half my term as Mayor of the Borough of Kirklees.  Seems that I was last here in July and it was raining.  Doesn’t really seem to have stopped since then, although I expect it has from time to time.  But it truly has been the most appalling summer.  No beetroot to speak of, the peas were indifferent, the runner beans late and the french beans almost non-existent.   The leeks are doing well and we might get a decent crop of spring broccoli.  Tomatoes were a washout, even in the greenhouse and I have accumulated 3 cucumbers from 2 plants.  Maybe it’s time to give up gardening.

So, I have been very busy “Mayoring” and I thought it might be an idea of talk about some of the things I have been doing.  Many people assume that this is an easy ride.  Believe me, it isn’t.  Every day, on with the white shirt, the tie, clean suit, cleaned shoes.  It might be nice to be driven from home to event and back again, but I find that I am spending more and more journey time asleep.  Is that age?  guess so!  And the most difficult thing of all – being nice to eveyone all the time!  This can be very trying.

So, I have gone back to the beginning of July, because I can’t remember how to access old blogs to see where I was.  I should do really.  I think I’ll save this, so far, have a read back and see what’s what.  Mmmm – seems I had got to July 1oth!  Well, the following day, lo and behold! I had the enormous privilege of meeting one of my boyhood heroes.  There we were, opening a new Care-Home in Marsh, chatting like old friends, only Denis Law and me.  What a great guy and such a gentleman.  He was so easy to be with, to talk with.  No side at all.  A really genuine nice guy.

Next day over to Dewsbury for the Citizenship ceremony.  The gents toilets were absolutely disgusting.  Knowing how much time me predecessor spends in Dewsbury Town Hall, I am really surprised that they have got so bad.  I complained and I heard subsequently that to clean them will be a massive task.  Well, they should have been maintained properly.

On Friday 13th I closed a school (Whitechapel Middle, Cleckheaton).  I gather that a new school will be opened on the site in September.  Well I was invited to that as well, but it seems that the Mayor closes down old schools and the Bishop opens new ones.  It’s a bit like the old Cleese, Barker, Corbett routine on TW3. “I know my place”.  Actually the Bishop is a really nice guy.  The LM (Lady Mayoress) and I went to a do at his home.  Needless to say, it was raining.

Then Monday 16th July, University Graduation Day and lunch with Sir Patrick Stewart.  He’s a very easy guty as well.  The weather was so poor that the parade from the University to the Town Hall was cancelled.  Garden party and hog roast with the High Sheriff.  Well, that turned out to be indoors as well.  It’s really lucky we didn’t drown.

School visits are going strong.  Certificate presentations to All Saints High School.  Great kids, lovely staff and VERY well organised.  One of the cups was very badly damaged and was presented to a lovely young lady with the advice that she must take real care as the cup isn’t strong.  It lasted less than ten minutes.  We took the pieces away with us and had it repaired at Cobwood Trophies in Milnsbridge.  70p it cost.  Went to the Pink Picnic on Sunday 22nd, which was quite memorable!

All the while, various matters in respect of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal are happening.  I am to walk the Kirklees Way in September and October and we have written to every Junior School and Middle School in the Borough to try and get the kids interested and motivated.  In addition, there will be concerts, abseiling, wall climbing, challenging Sports Centres to “row the Channel” or “swim the channel”, there will be supermarket bucket collection, a collection at the Town match vs Blackburn Rovers on 6th November.  The Regiment and the TA centre are now really involved together with the Lions, the Scouts, the Oddfellows, the Freemasons and the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue.  Now the walk is underway, these guys are really demonstrating how organised they are.  I have been walking with Margaret Charlesworth, Pte Frampton’s mum and Sue Clarke, Pte Wilford’s auntie and other members of the families.  They are such lovely people and it is great doing this walk with them and enjoying their company.

Emley Show – fantastic; Jamaica Independence Day and flag raising – spectacular; meeting Olympic athletes and particularly Ed Clancy – what an exceptionally good guy he is – Food and Drink Festival; Australian Rules Football – fascinating; visit to a Hindu Temple – interesting and very welcoming and then, amazingly, a weekend off!!  We went to London and had a great time.

Then back to it – opening a new garden in a care home; the closing ceremony for the Kirklees paralympics; visit to Dewsbury-on-Sea; meeting with Sean Jarvis the commercial director at HTFC – great meeting; the Northern Sikh Mela – very well organised.  And so into September and the start of the walk.  To help get fit, I have been using the exercise bike in the spare bedroom for maybe 3 months.  This has paid dividends as the walk, though challenging, is containable.  All details are on the mayor’s website. Try “Kirklees Council/Mayor/Walk”.

Will have to do another update soon. Tired now and another event is coming up and I have to get ready.

Cheers for now

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