Mayor’s column

CAN I just say to the English football supporters – like you, I was disappointed about our performance. Hoping we might have just squeezed through to the next round. Better luck next time?

Being half Welsh though, we still have a chance of a British team going all the way (as the Free Press goes to print). Time will tell.

Some of you may have been attending commemorative services or remembering in your own way the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, stated to have been one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War, remembering your past relatives who served or paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we have today.

I will be representing Rossendale locally and around Lancashire to remember those from our Valley who fell or served the country at this battle and throughout that war.

I attended the Annual Armed Forces Day, at St Mary’s Church in Rawtenstall and later at the cenotaph in Haslingden, for the ceremony of ‘Raising the Armed Forces Day Flag’. Thanking the young men and women who serve to safeguard our country. I would like to thank Deputy Lord Lieutenant Sir David Trippier, The Civic Dignitary, The Reverend Chris Casey, The British Legion and Veterans in the Community, and officers of the police, fire and council for taking part and organising this service.

There has been a lot of celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday. Along with the Mayoress we visited Blackburn Cathedral for a special service celebrating the Queen’s dedicated service to our country.

With the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, Lancashire Mayors and civic dignitaries present.

We also attended St Nicholas Church in Newchurch, where we had a very nice afternoon tea and an interesting walk around the church. It is said to be the oldest church in Rossendale. Our guide was a lady very well informed of the historical facts of this beautiful church.

We were invited to St Mary’s Football Club in Haslingden for a fun day and also to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. There seemed to be hundreds of people having a great time. This event was organised by a small number of shops and businesses in Haslingden. Thanks to the St Mary’s Club committee for use of their facilities.

Some guests were invited who’d also had their 90th birthday this year, to an afternoon tea provided by Hayhurst Bakers in Haslingden. There were stalls, a hog roast, bouncy castle, face painting, DJ and a military display provided by Veterans in the Community. The police and fire service were there.

Local primary school children entered a competition to draw a birthday card for the Queen. I was asked to choose the winners and runners up, who both received cash prizes. It was a difficult choice. Winning birthday cards were posted to Buckingham Palace.

All monies raised at the event will go to local charities.

We visited Haslingden High School for a production by the Cotton Shed Theatre Company called ‘Twisted Rhymes’, a musical adaptation of popular children’s nursery rhymes we all know.

It was a wonderful performance and production from the whole cast. The children were excellent with their singing and performances with supporting adults.

Nursery characters like “Old King Cole” – renamed ‘Old King Cool’ whose catchphrase was love and peace – Jack and Jill and Three Blind Mice, and many more were excellently performed.

The audience was kept fully amused with a funny original script, that gave everyone a permanent smile and laughter. It was an excellent performance, well done to the Cotton Shed.

I had an invitation to the Marl Pits all weather football pitches to watch the third year, of the five-a-side walking football tournament organised by the Raft Foundation. More than 20 teams entered the competition, and last year’s winners were there to try and win again.

While the weather wasn’t too great, the rain didn’t deter some excellent games of football and fun and laughter.

After the football we travelled to Edenfield for the annual village fete which was unfortunately affected by the day’s weather. We were told hundreds of people were enjoying themselves until the heavy rain.

There were still a number of hardened festival goers who were determined to have a good time, especially in the beer tent and the live music stage. This is the problem for event organisers, the weather can make or break the planning and hopes of successful events.

I’ve never heard of a festival celebrating one of the famous English culinary foods, which as a kid in Yorkshire you always looked forward to either as a treat or for tea with chips and gravy or mash and mushy peas.

The good old crusty savoury pie, either a steak, meat and potato or – my choice – a good pork pie, I’m sure you have your favourite.

Our invitation was to a fundraising charity event, ‘Stonehouse Festival of Pies’, here in Haslingden. This, I was told, is how a local company Truemans Windows decided to support the Alzheimer’s Society.

Each year staff choose a charity they wish to support.

We had an enjoyable evening’s entertainment of live music, and ate well known pies from many northern local bakeries, including Crawshawbooth or Haslingden and even from as far as Middlesbrough and Whitby.

I learnt this charity event raised more than £3,100. The total raised so far this year is over £5,000. Well done to everyone for your donations.