Mayor’s column
Coun Jackie Oakes
BY the time this column is printed, I’ll be nearly two thirds of the way through my Mayoral year and I’m assured that after Christmas the time really flies so I’d better make the most of this month !
The focus of the weekend recently was, of course, the Remembrance Day events that were held all around the valley.
Unfortunately, it is impossible for the Mayor to attend them all, but this year I chose to attend several smaller events plus the main parade in Bacup on Remembrance Sunday.
All the occasions were very different, suitably reflecting the local communities.
We attended the Stacksteads ceremony on Friday – this is my local event and I’ve been involved with organising it for many years. We hold it on Friday so that the local primary schools are able to attend and contribute and we value the support from Stacksteads Band and Veterans In Communities Choir. It’s sobering that the village made such a contribution to the war efforts.
On Saturday we attended the Edenfield ceremony and the names of those who died were read out by local residents. This also took place in Cowpe and Waterfoot on Sunday morning, and highlights how devastating it must have been to lose so many young men.
In Cowpe we were told the personal stories of several soldiers and in Waterfoot we were given a booklet containing biographies of the forty four men whose names are listed at the gates of the Memorial Ground which was paid for by the workers at Trickett’s Mill.
Some soldiers have no known grave so the garden is particularly poignant.
The parade in Bacup was attended by several hundred residents, with many more children than in previous years, including Beavers, Cubs and Scouts who created a ring of red around the Cenotaph with painted stones, added to the many wreaths laid.
There were many residents proudly displaying their medals and there was a palpable community spirit around the Cenotaph.
As with any event, the success of the day depends on the forward planning and I’d like to say thank you to all those who give their time so freely to ensure that suitable tributes are paid all over the valley to those who gave their today for our tomorrow.
We must never forget.
For the Mayor, December is traditionally a very busy month consisting of school nativity plays and carol services. I expect our invitations will be understandably limited this year.