June Harrison Mayor of Hyndburn

SCHOOL’S out for summer now and we’ve absolutely loved attending all the leaving parties, graduation ceremonies and end of term plays and shows at schools and nurseries in Hyndburn!

I even judged a best afternoon tea competition at All Saints Primary School, which was not only absolutely delicious but great fun too.

Thanks for all the invitations, we really appreciate them, it’s wonderful to see so much budding talent and potential for the future in our young people and best wishes to all the hardworking staff and pupils for a super summer break.

● Talking about the potential of our young people, this was highlighted again when we visited Accrington Stanley’s WHAM stadium to see presentations made to young people who attended a Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Prince’s Trust twelve week personal development course, to empower them to work in their local community. Well done to them all.

● Rishton youngsters were at the heart of the colourful carnival style procession which began Rishton Festival, a hugely enjoyable day where everyone came together to celebrate the creativity of the community.

Twelve schools and community groups, including Brownies and Scouts, made the costumes and later there was a festival of dance, poetry, comedy and other creative performances.

We enjoyed it all immensely.

Thanks for a wonderful day!

● Last Saturday we were back at the Haworth Art Gallery for the launch of ‘Pollyanna Pickering – Artist of the Living World’ exhibition.

Pollyanna, who sadly passed away suddenly last year was a Patron of Haworth Art Gallery, as well as the Born Free Foundation and Badger Trust.

It’s a fabulous exhibition which not only showcases Pollyanna’s wonderful artwork but also highlights her conservation work via her own Wildlife Foundation. Go along and see it if you can, it’s open until September.

● I was proud and honoured to host my Mayoral Civic Sunday event recently, which, in a break with tradition, was held at my local church, St Anne’s RC Church, Accrington. It was a beautiful and moving day, thank you to all my guests who included family, friends, councillor colleagues, local organisations and members of the public who came along and made the day so special.

● And finally, as Mayor there are many things about the borough which make me proud, and one of them is how lucky we are to have so many people and groups who give their time and energy so freely for the benefit of their community.

It was marvellous therefore to attend a ceremony where The Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, presented representatives of DanceSyndrome’s Dance Leader Team, 1st Oswaldtwistle’s St Paul’s Scout Group and Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, an award which recognises the vital role of the voluntary sector in the community by rewarding excellence of the ‘unsung heroes’ of the voluntary world.

A huge well done to them all for this richly deserved recognition of all their sterling work.