Madam Mayor's Diary
Monday 31 March
My Consort and I attended Fiddlers Lane Primary School, Irlam, where we enjoyed watching the pupils perform a play based on Robin Hood. The children were excellent and they all did well.
In the evening we attended a lecture by the Chinese Ambassador at Manchester Town Hall. She spoke about China’s new industrialisation path and the links with Greater Manchester and the UK. It was quite interesting and I came away with a better understanding of where China would like to be in the future relating to industry.
Tuesday 1 April
We were invited to attend a social event organised by the Salford Disability Forum. We had a pleasant evening listening to some old songs and being entertained by Fred Fielder.
Wednesday 2 April
I was invited to St. Paul’s CE Primary School, Walkden, to talk to 250 pupils about my role as Mayor of Salford. The children were very interested and asked many questions. They really liked seeing me in my robes and at the end of the session the Deputy Head asked them if they would like to become the Mayor when they got older and quite a few said yes.
At lunch time my Consort and I entertained the under 15s city of Salford Schools Football Team in the Mayor’s Parlour prior to them going on a visit to Australia. I wished them well and looked forward to them returning with one or two good wins under their belts. What a fantastic opportunity for some of our young people to visit Australia, we managed to get to Southport for our school visit!
Thursday 3 April
I chaired a meeting of my Charity Committee in the Mayor’s Parlour, we are doing well and still have a few events planned.
In the evening I hosted a dinner for the Manchester Consular Association at Worsley Court House. Many of the past mayors of Salford also attended, it was good to see one or two who have retired from the council. We had a delicious meal prepared and served by our in house staff Citywide Catering and all the guests said how much they enjoyed the dinner and the evening.
Friday 4 April
My Consort and I attended the opening of a new Housing Scheme, Aston Fold, at the Height Methodist Church Hall, Salford. After the opening by Hazel Blears, MP we visited the site and I was very impressed with the development.
Saturday 5 April
My Consort and I attended the Licensing and Installation of the priest in charge, Revd. Sandra Kearney, at St. Clements Parish Church, Ordsall. The service was well attended and I was pleased to welcome her to Salford.
Monday 7 April
I hosted a reception for a group of planners from Lünen, one of our twin towns. They were visiting Salford on an exchange visit to look at the new development areas in our city.
Tuesday 8 April
My Consort and all the Mayors of Greater Manchester attended the Mayor of Trafford’s Civic Tour. We started with a tour of the Imperial War Museum North and the special exhibition now on, George Rodger’s war photographs. We all felt we would have liked more time to look around but time was short and it gave us an incentive to make a return visit. We then went on to the Chill Factor where a few of the Mayors and Mayoresses had a skiing taster session on the slopes. It was good fun to watch and to my amazement they didn’t fall.
Wednesday 9 April
Another Civic Tour - this time we were invited by the Mayor of Bolton and we visited Bolton Wanderers Football Club and had a photocall with all the civic guests on the pitch. Following our visit to the ground we took a coach ride to Arcon Village, a new development in Horwich. We had a short tour and visited two show houses. From there we travelled by coach to Ridgmount House for lunch before moving on to Smithhills for a guided tour which I enjoyed very much. Our visit ended at 4pm.
Just enough time to return home for a change of clothes before going to a reception hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith, held at Gorton Monastery, Manchester where we met the Deputy Lieutenants and many other guests. We had a lovely evening and were back home to put our feet up at 9pm.
Thursday 10 April
My Mayoress and I attended the Manchester Consular Spring Luncheon at Manchester Town Hall. The Lord Mayors of Manchester and Chester also attended, we enjoyed an excellent lunch.
Friday 11 April
My Consort and I attended a very moving memorial service for Michael Todd at Manchester Cathedral.
Saturday 12 April
My Consort and I were off to the Royal Northern College of Music to listen to a performance of “Missa Solemnis” given by Salford Choral Society. It was a fantastic performance and I enjoyed it very much.
Sunday 13 April
On Sunday afternoon my Consort and I attended the Manchester United v Arsenal football match at Old Trafford. We met the Lord mayor of Manchester and the Mayor of Trafford – Manchester United won 2-1.
Tuesday 15 April
My Consort and I joined the Mayors of Greater Manchester on a tour of Wigan, as guests of the Mayor of Wigan. We had a very busy day visiting the Robin Park Sports Centre, Trencherfield Mill Engine, Dam House and Leigh Sports Village where we enjoyed a lunch before we departed for home. I have really enjoyed the tours of the boroughs of Greater Manchester and I have learned quite a lot about their areas and what is on offer for their residents.
Wednesday 16 April
The President of All Saints Musical Productions invited my Consort and I to The Lowry to see a performance of “Honk” a musical based on the Ugly Duckling. It was excellent and the audience went home smiling after a happy ending.
Thursday 17 April
My Mayoress and I attended a Business Awards Ceremony at The Lowry, Salford Quays. This was the first time Salford had hosted such a ceremony to congratulate many of the businesses and community workers in Salford. The evening went well and I hope it will be the first of many.
Friday 18 April
My Consort and I met the Chairman of Carphone Warehouse Networks, Northbank Industrial Park, Irlam where I was invited to open their new premises. The development manages the network infrastructure that many Carphone Warehouse customers use and employs over 400 staff and is expected to expand this year to 600 staff. I was pleased to say a few words of congratulations and unveil a commemorative plaque. I wish them well for the future.
In the afternoon I presented certificates to successful students who had attended training sessions organised by Groundwork Manchester, Salford and Trafford and Salford Economic Development. I congratulated them all on their achievement and hope they find employment in the near future.
In the evening we attended a “Night with the Houghton Weavers” organised by John Wilkinson and his staff at the Willows Variety Centre. The event was in aid of my charity appeal. Thank you to all who attended, it was a great night of entertainment.
Saturday 19 April
My consort and I attended a Bengali New Years Day event at the United Reformed Church, Swinton. There were speeches from the President and we were entertained by dancers, singers. Happy New Year to all Bengalis living in Salford.
In the evening we attended a Beating Retreat event for the Greater Manchester Garrison 100 years of Territorial Army, at Manchester Town Hall. The band of the Brigade of Gurkhas played the music and took the salute and the evening finished with a fantastic fireworks display.
Sunday 20 April
My Consort and I attended a charity event at Charlies Club, Harter Street, Manchester organised by Raymond and Carol Chan. We watched the lion dance and I gave a short speech of thanks to Raymond and Carol for putting on the event and to everyone supporting my charity appeal. A raffle was organised and I look forward to meeting the winners and presenting them with their prizes in the Mayor’s Parlour.
Monday 21 April
My consort and I welcomed the Jiraskovo Grammar School Student Choir from Nachod in the Czech Republic into the Mayor’s Parlour. They had been invited to Salford by Dave Bamford for the second time in two years to visit Salford and to perform two concerts, one at St. Lukes, Salford and Walkden Methodist Hall, Walkden. We were very lucky to hear the choir sing three songs in the Civic Centre and were invited to the concert on Thursday 24 April. After hearing the choir sing in the Civic Centre I knew we were in for a treat on Thursday. I welcomed them to Salford and hoped they would have an interesting visit
Later we attended a lunch hosted by the Acting Chief Constable at Sedgley Park Centre, Prestwich. The lunch is given each year to say thank you to all the Mayors of Greater Manchester for attending and presenting awards to police officers, staff and members of the public throughout the year. It was a very enjoyable lunch with just a tinge of sadness by the death of Mike Todd.
In the evening we were invited to attend the Girl Guiding Greater Manchester West AGM held at Timperley Methodist Church where we met the President and Chairperson and heard a very inspiring speech from the County Commissioner. The event was attended by over 100 Guide leaders.
Wednesday 23 April
My Consort and I attended the City of Salford Unison Retired Members luncheon held at the Monton House Hotel. I was presented with a cheque from the members for my Charity Appeal which I accepted and thanked the members for their generosity and kind invitation to lunch.
In the evening we attended a charity band concert organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Irlam held at Formby Hall, Atherton. We had a fantastic night entertained by the Police Big Band. It was good just to sit back and enjoy.
Thursday 24 April
We went along to hear the Jiraskovo Grammar School Student Choir at Walkden Methodist Community Hall, Walkden. We were not disappointed - the concert was excellent.
Friday 25 April
It was my turn to host a Civic Tour of Salford for the Mayors of Greater Manchester. They arrived at the Civic Centre and after refreshments I took them on a tour of the new Salford suite and registrar’s offices and wedding suite. After this short tour of the Civic Centre we departed for Ordsall Hall, for a tour and an opportunity for photographs. Later we moved to the Lowry for a Civic Heads photograph and tour of the building and lunch. After lunch we moved on to the Salford Museum and Art Gallery to see Lark Hill Place and had a look at the art exhibitions. All the Mayors agreed that they had had a wonderful day in Salford and looked forward to spending more time at Ordsall, the Lowry and Art Gallery in the future. Thank you to all the staff for the arrangements, we had a great day.
In the evening my Consort and I went back to the Art Gallery at the invitation of Salford Arts Club where I opened their 60th anniversary exhibition and presented prizes to the artists chosen by the club members. Two artists from St. Ouen, one of our twin towns, also had paintings in the exhibition.
Saturday 26 April
My Mayoress had organised an abseil event for my charity. This took place down the clock tower of the Civic Centre. My Consort and I arrived at 9am to see my Mayoress and grandsons abseil down. To say my heart was in my mouth is an understatement. 75 people did the abseil on the day and we stopped to watch until 11.45 when we moved on to the canal to attend a barge trip from the swing bridge at Barton and sailed to Worsley Green for a barbecue. The proceeds from both events went to my Charity Appeal. The weather was fine and we had a lovely day. Thank you to all the people who arranged such a great day for my charity.
Sunday 27 April
Our first appointment was at Bury Town Hall for tea with the Mayor before we attended the annual Gallipoli Commemoration Service at Bury Parish Church.
After the service and march past we hot footed to Manchester Cathedral for a Joint Boys and Girls Brigade annual Church Parade and Service. Sadly the rain came down just as the Lord Lieutenant took the march past outside the cathedral and the young people got wet through. I hope none of them caught a cold.
Following this we were back at the cathedral to attend a Welcome Service for two new Bishops of Bolton and Middleton. The Bishops made a short speech and thanked everyone for their welcome. They seemed very happy to be here and I am sure they will have a happy and lasting relationship with their churches and parishioners.
Monday 28 April
My Consort and I attended the 10th anniversary of the Manchester Adoption Society and the Goodman Team at Mocha Parade, Lower Broughton. I met and chatted to the members of staff, cut the birthday cake and released pink and blue balloons to mark the event.
In the evening I welcomed 2 artists from St. Ouen and members of Salford Arts Club into the Mayor’s Parlour. At the moment the Salford Art Club has an exhibition on at Salford Art Gallery and the artists from St. Ouen have brought paintings for the exhibition. The exhibition is on until July and I hope many people from Salford will go and visit. We have many talented residents in Salford and they should be very proud of their work.
Tuesday 29 April
We visited St John’s Primary School, Swinton where I was invited to cut a ribbon and declare a new classroom “open”. After the ribbon cutting I had a talk to the children and a tour of the school. Following this we moved on to Oakwood High School, Ellesmere Park, Eccles where I spoke to the children about my role as Mayor and later had a tour of the school. I have really enjoyed my visits to the schools in Salford where I have been very well received and have answered many questions about my life and role as Mayor of Salford.
Wednesday 30 April
My first job was to draw the winning tickets for my Grand Raffle. We had 25 prizes and I hope all the winners were happy with their prize. Thank you to all who bought tickets, I raised over £2,500.00 for my charities.
In the evening my Consort and I attended a Salford University Big Band Charity evening organised by Salford with Swinton Rotary Club at Swinton Park Golf Club. We had a great night and raised over £ 700.00 for my charities.
This page was last updated on 4 October 2009
