Madam Mayor's Diary
Monday 3rd December
Our only engagement today was at the Bridgewater Hall to attend the Salvation Army Annual Carol Concert. It was an excellent night with carols and music from the Salvation Army and friends.
Tuesday 4th December
I chaired the Annual General Meeting of the Salfordian Hotel (one of my charities). It was good to catch up on all the activities going on at the hotel and hearing about the many older residents of Salford who have enjoyed a holiday there in the past 12 months.
In the afternoon I attended a cream tea party for the older residents of the Valley Estate organised by the staff at the community centre. Following this I chaired the Annual General Meeting of the Salford Children’s Holiday Camp. I was pleased to hear how well it is run and is continuing to provide holidays for many children in Salford.
In the evening my Consort and I was invited to Cadishead Catholic Club to attend a Christmas Band Concert. We had a good time and enjoyed the night very much.
Wednesday 5th December
My Consort and I attended the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards lunch at the Midland Hotel. It was a swish affair and it was very exciting to see all the stars receiving their awards. Well done to all.
Later in the afternoon we went along to the Christmas Tea Dance organised by the Senior Action Group for Swinton at the Masonic Hall. Over 160 people attended and all seemed to have a good time.
In the evening we attended the City of Salford Carol Service at Salford Cathedral. The Greater Manchester Police Band played and I gave the first reading, Chief Superintendent Mulligan gave the 2nd reading, the Chief Executive read a poem by John Betjeman and Councillor John Merry reflected on the year and gave his aspirations for the city. We also heard wonderful songs from Swinton Satellite Schools Choir and Chatsworth School Choir. The BBC Philharmonic Brass Quintet played and the congregation sang some wonderful carols. It was a fantastic night and I was very proud to be the Mayor of Salford to see so many residents enjoying the carols and having a good time. Thank you to all the people who organised the event. We all went home happy with carols still ringing in our ears.
Thursday 6th December
I chaired a meeting of my Charity Committee. The committee have lots of things planned to bring in the pennies and pounds that will go to my chosen charities. Thank you to the committee for all their hard work.
In the evening my Mayoress and I attended a Princes Trust Presentation Evening for Team 15. I presented the awards after hearing the team’s experiences in life and how being a part of the team had helped them change their way of life for the better. Well done to them all and good luck in the future.
Friday 7th December
My Consort and I attended a Carers Rights event at the Swinton Masonic Hall. We looked at the many displays offering help and support to carers and spoke to the stall holders about the service they were offering carers and their families. I came away with lots of information that may help myself and others in the future.
Later in the afternoon I launched the ice skating rink on the front of the Civic Centre before setting off to Cadishead for a pensioners Christmas party, to wish them a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Sadly we could not stay because we had to get ready for our next engagement, the Mayor of Bury’s Civic Reception and Ball at the Longfield Suite, Prestwich where we had a lovely meal and enjoyed the company of the Mayors of Greater Manchester and residents of Bury.
Saturday 8th December
We went to visit Asda, Trafford Park where some young people and members of my Charity Committee were bag packing to raise funds for my charities. I thanked them for giving up their Saturday and for all their hard work.
In the evening we attended Irlam and Cadishead Handicapped Persons Group Christmas Dinner at Preston Hall. It was a very informal affair with a lot of fun and laughter.
Sunday 9th December
We attended another event at Salford Cathedral for “A Celebration of Christmas” organised by Age Concern Salford. I gave a reading and joined in with the carol singing. We had another lovely night and were pleased to be joined by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Manchester and the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Bury.
Monday 10th December
My Consort and I spent a wonderful 2 hours listening to the Bridgewater School children singing carols and festive songs in the Ellesmere Centre, Walkden. I had been invited by the Rotary Club of Walkden, who had organised the event, to open the carol and music festival which will take place over the next two weeks.16 schools will take part and I am sure they will all entertain the shoppers really well.
Tuesday 11th December
I attended two Citizenship Ceremonies at Salford Civic Centre, one in the morning and one in the afternoon when 68 people in total were granted British citizenship. I congratulated them all and wished them well for the future.
In the evening we were invited to Buile Hill Park Hall to attend the Salford Disabled Motorists Christmas Dinner. I made a short speech and thanked them for all their hard work over the past year and hoped that 2008 will be as successful.
Wednesday 12th December
We went along to Hope Hospital where we visited the Intensive Care Baby Unit, the Maternity wards and two Renal wards. We enjoyed our visit very much. After lunch I congratulated the staff for working so hard and looking after the patients so well in spite of all the demolition and new buildings being erected around them. When the work is finished I am sure we will have one of the finest hospitals in the country. Well done and keep up the good work, thank you to all staff.
Later on we joined the Lantern Parade and Carol Singing at the Cornerstone, Langworthy Road organised by the Seedley and Langworthy Events Group, before rushing off to Manchester for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Carol Service at St. Ann’s Church. This was another great service, I am really getting into the Christmas spirit now.
Thursday 13th December
My Mayoress and I were invited to a Christmas buffet lunch for the distributors, partners and headquaters staff, by the Chief Executive of Booth Charities. It was very informal and it was a pleasure to meet some of the staff and distributors.
In the evening we attended a Christmas Celebration organised by Greater Manchester Police which was held at Manchester Cathedral. The whole congregation were in good voice and the service was enjoyed by all.
Friday 14th December
Only one engagement today when my Consort and I attended a Christmas lunch for the sponsors of Salford City Reds, organised by their Chairman, at the Willows Variety Centre, Salford. We had a good meal and listened to a very funny comedian.
Saturday 15th December
Our first engagement on Saturday was a ”Churches Together” Open Air Carol Service at Eccles Cross. Although it was a very cold day many people turned out to join in the carols and the service.
In the evening we attended a performance of “Handel’s Messiah” given by Salford Choral Society at the Royal Northern College of Music. It was the first time I had heard a live performance and was delighted at the high standard of singing. The hallelujah chorus is still ringing in my ears.
Monday 17th December
I hosted a lunch for Frank Corfield, President of the Royal British Legion who, for over 30 years, has organised the Remembrance Day Service in Salford. It was a great honour to invite him and some members of his family into the Mayor’s Parlour to thank him for all his dedicated work for the British Legion and to wish him a long and happy retirement.
Tuesday 18th December
I attended a Citizenship Ceremony in the Council Chamber for 36 people. I invited them and their guests into the parlour for a cup of tea and to congratulate them on becoming British citizens.
At 7.30pm my Consort and I attended an Ecumenical Carol Service at St. Mary’s Church, Cadishead. We had a nice cup of tea and a mince pie and afterwards I had a good chat to some of the parishioners. The collection was for my charity and I thanked them for their generosity.
Wednesday 19th December
This was the Council Christmas Lunch and my Mayoress and I enjoyed it very much. It gave me a chance to see most of the councillors and many of the directors. I thanked the chef and the staff for a delicious lunch and asked the directors to pass on my thanks to all the council staff for all their hard work over the past year.
In the evening my Consort and I attended a Christmas Carol Service at St. Ann’s Hospice, Little Hulton (one of my charities). I was pleased to see so many patients taking part and enjoying the service. The Bishop of Salford, the Chief Executive of the Hospice and many residents also attended.
Thursday 20th December
My Mayoress and I attended the Windsor Drop In Centre for a Christmas Carol Service. We met many of the service users, some of the most vulnerable people in Salford, staff and many of the volunteers who run the centre. Thank goodness we have places like the centre where people can go for a hot meal and help with their lives.
In the evening we attended St. Philip’s Church, Salford, for a Christmas Concert performed by Salford Choral Society. It was an excellent evening of verse, carols and songs enjoyed by all.
Friday 21st December
On a very cold Friday night my Consort and I sang our hearts out at the
”Carols in the Park Concert” held in Victoria Park, Swinton. Despite the cold over 150 people attended, we had a visit from Father Christmas and it even snowed. It really put us in the mood for the coming festivities.
Sunday 23rd December
It was our last Carol Concert. My consort and I were invited to a festival of lessons and carols by candlelight at Eccles Parish Church. I was invited to read one of the lessons, the church was full and when I spoke to the parishioners over a cup of tea after the service, I found everyone was looking forward to Christmas day and celebrating with family and friends.
May I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year.
This page was last updated on 15 January 2008
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