Madam Mayor's Diary
Tuesday 4 March
My Consort and I attended the AGM of the salford Patient and Public Involvement Forum at Buile Hill Park Hall. The chairman gave an insight into the work they had been involved in over the past year and thanked all the volunteers who had worked so hard.
Wednesday 5 March
We attended a Halle for Youth Concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. When we took our seats it was thrilling to see the hall full of children and a few adults. The concert was named “Forces of Nature” - by listening to the music we got a feel for what would happen if we didn’t look after the earth and reduce our use of fuels and recycle as much as we can. The concert was most entertaining and educational.
In the evening my Mayoress and I attended the Mayoress of Tameside’s “At Home” event at the Town Hall, Ashton-under-Lyne. We were entertained by dancers, singers and an organist. Over 300 women attended as well as all the female Mayors and their Mayoresses, we had a great night.
Thursday 6 March
I chaired a meeting of my Charity Committee and was pleased to hear that all their hard work organising events was paying off. Money for my charities is coming in at a steady pace and we still have a few events to go. I am sure they will be as successful.
Friday 7 March
This was a busy day - my first engagement was attending the launch and opening of the Salford Innovation Forum at the Forum Building, Frederick Road, Salford. The building provides workspace for 55 new businesses requiring an initial solution to their start up needs. It is managed by Salford City Council and the University of Salford. The funding for the £9.4 million capital project comes from the NWDA European Regional Development Fund and New Deal for Communities.
After lunch my Consort and I attended the Women’s World Day of Prayer service at the United Reformed Church, Worsley Road, Swinton. It was a lovely service and we prayed for the people in Guyana, sang hymns and listened to a speaker telling us about her visits to Guyana and other countries. After the service I met many of the ladies from different churches in Swinton.
In the evening it was a complete change of mood - my Consort had arranged a race night at our local pub for my charity appeal. We had a great time and £350.00 was raised for my charities. Thank you one and all.
Saturday 8 March
My Consort and I were invited to join the general manager of the BBC Philharmonic and the Chief Executive of Salford City Council at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, for a concert. We were delighted to attend and I was pleased to see the hall full. The concert was great and the piano soloist, Ayako Uehara, was fantastic, what talent!! We really enjoyed the concert and I am looking forward to hearing the “Phil” again soon.
Monday 10 March
My first engagement was to chair the Council Agenda Setting Group in preparation for the full Council meeting on Wednesday 19th.
In the evening my Consort and I attended the Salford Schools Dance Festival held at the Quays Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays. We were thrilled to watch the primary and high school pupils perform. I am always amazed at the wealth of talent we have in our schools. I congratulated all the young people who had taken part and the teachers who give so much of their time to train the groups of dancers. Well done everyone.
Tuesday 11 March
My Consort and I had a very early start. We were picked up at 7-45am to be taken to Manchester Town Hall for the Lord Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. The theme was “Transformation” with readings, prayers and stories from former drug addicts. It was a very interesting start to our day.
Later in the morning we attended a Spring Fayre at the Agnes Hopkins Centre, Swinton. We met the chairman and secretary and many of the residents who visit the centre for lunch, and many other activities including a dance class. I found that the centre was well run and booked every day for activities.
In the evening my Consort and I attended the 63rd AGM of the League of Jewish Women, held in the Stenecourt Synagogue, Salford. We heard about all the voluntary work the women do and witnesed the installation of the new Chairwoman who will hold office for the next 3 years.
Wednesday 12 March
I visited Orbit House in Eccles to sell some of my grand raffle tickets. In the afternoon I was invited to attend an International Womens Day celebration at the Link Project, Chadwick Road, Eccles. I met many women who attend the centre and was entertained by a young lady who performed some wonderful dances.
Thursday 13 March
My Mayoress and I attended an older people’s event organised by the Disability Forum at the Masonic Hall, Hospital Road, Swinton. We listened to many speakers including Cllr Maureen Lea who is the lead member for Health and Social Care. I was pleased to learn that so much is available for older people in the city and that people who are getting older are not being forgotten in Salford.
At tea time we went along to The Lowry to listen to the Inaugural “David Plowright Lecture”. The lecture was presented by Michael Apted, who many of you will recognise as a producer of many TV programmes including a number of episodes of Coronation Street and the Seven Up series. He has also directed many films including the Coal Miner’s Daughter and Gorillas in the Mist. David Plowright’s widow and family attended and his son spoke of how honoured they were to have him remembered in this way. The lecture will be an annual event and they will acknowledge and commemorate David’s outstanding contribution to British television.
Friday 14 March
My Consort and I attended the official opening of the new Pendleton College building and the Eccleston Theatre in the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester. We had a tour of the building and then enjoyed some wonderful singing by some of the students in the theatre before the Duke officially opened the building. From Pendleton College we went in motorcade to the “Unity Quarter” Salford Regeneration Project, Oaklands Road, Lower Kersal where HRH The Duke of Gloucester opened a housing development by Miller Homes North West. We were invited to look around one of the show houses and the Duke buried a time capsule and planted a tree before he left for Bury.
Saturday 15 March
My Consort and I had another full day. Our first engagement was at Fit City, Ordsall, to watch an Inter-Centre Gymnastics Competition. I was very impressed with the young people as they went through their routines. I wouldn’t like to judge them as they were all very good but some people did and we had winners. I was invited to present them with their medals and a cup for the overall winning centre. Well done Ordsall and well done to all who took part.
Later we were back at Miller Homes, Oaklands Road, Lower Kersal. This time I had a little more time to look round the houses and I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the properties and to see lots of people interested in buying the houses. Three people signed up whilst we were there.
Following this we made our way to Manchester Cathedral for the Licensing and Installation of the Reverend Gilly Myres as the Canon Precentor at the Cathedral. I was invited to welcome her to Manchester on behalf of all the civic communities in the Diocese of Manchester.
After the service at the cathedral we made a quick dash home to get washed and changed to attend the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Dinner in honour of the Civic Heads. All the Mayors of Greater Manchester attended alongside the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester and his wife Jean. After a pleasant dinner we were invited to a tour of Manchester Town Hall, I even saw rooms I hadn’t seen before. All in all we had a good night after a very busy day.
Monday 17 March
I was invited to an Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony at Hope High School, Eccles. I presented over 100 certificates to our looked after children and congratulated them for doing so well at school. I also read a letter from a young lady who had been in the care of Salford City Council who achieved her ambition to become a teacher and to say thank you to the council for all the help she received in the time she was looked after in Salford.
Tuesday 18 March
My Consort and I called into Emerson House, Eccles, to sell raffle tickets for my grand raffle. In the afternoon I attended a Citizenship Ceremony for 27 people who after a period of over 6 years were at last becoming British citizens.
In the evening my consort and I attended a Spring Concert given by Monton Voices at St. Peter and Pauls RC Church, Salford. We listened to some great songs and even joined in one or two.
Wednesday 19 March
This was full council day and at 8.30 am I welcomed Dr. Maeve Keaney and her friends into the Mayor’s Parlour before she received the Mayor’s Citizen Award for the month of March from me in the Council Chamber. I was very interested to learn about her work with over 200 medical staff from over seas, enabling them to settle in Salford and helping them to find work. Congratulations to Dr. Keaney, a well deserved award winner.
In the evening I took a guest to watch the football match between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers. Manchester United won 2-0.
Saturday 22 March
My Consort and I were invited to Swinton Amateur Swimming Club’s Reunion at Swinton Masonic Hall. A good night was had by all.
Sunday 23 March
I took a guest to Old Trafford to watch a football match between Manchester United and Liverpool. We met the Lord Mayor of Manchester and the Mayor of Trafford and we all enjoyed the match. Manchester United won 3-0.
Easter Monday 24 March
My Mayoress and I judged an Easter Bonnet Competition at the Anchor Trust Older Peoples Home, Beechfield Lodge, Eccles Old Road, Salford. All the residents looked splendid in their bonnets and it was difficult to choose a winner. We talked to the residents and the staff and enjoyed a cup of tea before we had to leave.
Wednesday 26 March
My Consort and I attended a celebration event organised by the Youthbank, part of Salford Youth Service run by young people with supervision and training given by adults to enable them to assess and award grants to groups of young people. The event took place at Swinton Golf Club. The young people organised the event themselves and the whole night was a huge success. I made a small speech congratulating the young people for all their volunteering work for the Youthbank.
Thursday 27 March
My Mayoress and I started our day with a photoshoot organised by ADZ Ltd, for their clients Robins and Day to launch the new build of a £6,000,000 car showroom on Albion Way, Salford, formerly the Reg Vardy site. Before we left for our next appointment I wished them well with their project and looked forward to the opening in August.
Following this we attended the Loaves and Fishes Easter celebration at the Windsor Drop In Centre, Salford. The centre is open to the homeless and vulnerable people in Salford where they can go for a meal and obtain any help they need offered by the staff and volunteers.
Friday 28 March
My first engagement was to present certificates to people who were previously unemployed and who have attended a Horticultural Course, organised by the Environment and Economic Development Services in Salford, held at Turnpike House, Eccles. My Consort and I were very pleased to learn that many of the trainees had successfully found full time work after finishing their training. Well done to all.
In the afternoon we went along to the Broadwalk Centre to have a look at the Drop-in Event organised by Salix Homes, the Arms Length Management Organisation of council housing stock for central Salford. The event was based on diversity in central Salford. There were many stalls and lots of people to speak to about all aspects of diversity.
In the evening my Consort and I attended the Mayor of Bolton’s Civic Dinner at Bolton Town Hall. It was good to meet the other Mayors of Greater Manchester and all the honoured guests invited by the Mayor. Unfortunately the Lord Mayor of Manchester could not attend so I was asked to reply to the Mayor of Bolton’s welcome and I was honoured to do so.
Saturday 29 March
My Consort and I attended the Mayor of Rochdale’s Ball at Rochdale Town Hall. We had a lovely meal and enjoyed meeting the sons of the Mayor and Mayoress together with the other Greater Manchester Mayors and local MPs. My Consort and I had a few dances and finally called it a day at 11.30 pm.
This page was last updated on 4 October 2009
