Coun June Harrison

Mayor of Hyndburn

ON January 27, I was proud to represent Hyndburn at an event hosted by the City of Preston to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place each year on January 27 and this year marked 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, and also marked the 25th anniversary of the Genocide in Bosnia.

The day is about remembering the victims and those whose lives have been changed beyond recognition by the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and other genocides which have occurred since.

Holocaust Memorial Day provides us with an opportunity to honour the survivors but it’s also a chance to look to our own lives and communities today.

I joined other Mayors and organisations of all religious persuasions with the common bond of promoting a free, tolerant and democratic society.

This year’s theme was ‘Stand Together’ and I was honoured to stand together in a message of hope, highlighting the Council’s support for Holocaust Memorial Day at a service at the Church of St George The Martyr.

By learning from the lessons of the past, we can create a safer, better future.

Last month I was delighted to carry on the tradition of Hyndburn’s Mayor officially starting the East Lancashire Hospice Fun Run.

It was a lovely fine morning and a brilliant atmosphere as over four hundred people gathered in Great Harwood to take part in this fantastic annual event, which features both a 10k run and a 2K Fun Run, open to all ages to raise money for the Hospice.

Well done to all involved and to the organisers who did an excellent job.

The NSPCC is yet another marvellous charity, doing so much good work for children and young people, so it was great to attend a fantastic fundraising concert at Accrington Town Hall earlier this month, with superb music and entertainment by the Houghton Weavers and the 2nd Rossendale Scout band, a splendid afternoon, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Whilst we’re on the subject of young people, I was reminded last week just how much talent we have here in Hyndburn, when I attended the Ynot Aspire and Carer’s Link Lancashire CHARM

Young Person’s Award Night at the Civic in Oswaldtwistle.

CHARM stands for St Christopher’s, The

Hollins, Accrington and Hyndburn Academies, Rhyddings and Mount Carmel schools and this was a wonderful interschool event, highlighting and celebrating the many talents and achievements of local young people, whilst helping to raise funds for these two local charities.

The CHARM forum, made up of two young people from each of the secondary schools involved, did all the planning and ran the event on the night, all absolutely superbly!

Hats off to them and to the winners of the five awards; Inspiration, Young Voice, Sportsperson, Young Carer and Talent plus overall Young Person of the Year.

Huge congratulations to them all.

And finally, all the fabulous fundraising events organised by my hardworking Mayoral Charity Committee, have already raised lots of money for my Mayoral Charities, Play4UZ2, Derian House Children’s Hospice, North West Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support.

I’m now looking forward to my biggest fundraising event of the year, my Mayor’s Ball, which will take place in the magnificent Accrington Town Hall ballroom on February 28, where I’m sure we’ll raise lots more money for these four marvellous local causes.

There are just a few tickets left, so if you fancy joining us for a great night out please email themayoraloffice@ hyndburnbc.gov.uk or call on 01254 388 111.