Madam Mayor's Diary
Thursday 1 May
My Mayoress and I visited the Broadwalk Pupil Referral Unit in Salford where I attended the assembly and presented certificates to the pupils who had shown improvement in their behaviour and learning. I also talked to them about my role and answered many questions. All the young people were on their best behaviour and we had a very pleasant visit.
In the evening we attended a reception for Andyom Hashoah Commemoration at Prestwich Hebrew Congregation, Bury New Road, Prestwich .The service was to remember all the Jewish people who died in the holocaust. It was a very moving service and we heard from three people who survived.
Friday 2 May
I welcomed 35 visitors from our twin town of St Ouen. Every two years the Twinning Committee of St. Ouen organise a holiday to England for the residents. This year they chose to go to Scotland before they came to Salford for two days. Speaking to the visitors I heard that they had had a good time in spite of the weather. It was good to see so many friends again from St. Ouen and I am looking forward to going over on a visit in the future.
Saturday 3 May
I was invited to plant a tree in the new orchard at the Community Centre, Dorning Road, Swinton, organised by the Little Green Breakfast Club. The children were all excited about the garden and I hope they look after it well.
In the afternoon my Consort and I attended the football match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford. I was very pleased when Manchester United won.
Sunday 4 May
My Consort and I visited the Destructor Allotment site on Mossfield Road, Swinton. The allotments had been neglected for some time but all the plots have now been taken up and a thriving community is working hard growing their own food and plants.
In the afternoon we attended the first St. Georges Day Service to be held at Manchester Cathedral organised by the Royal Society of St. George. I enjoyed the service and I hope it will become a feature in the cathedral calendar in the future.
Monday 5 May
My Consort and I were invited to the May Day Festival organised by the friends of Buile Hill Park. We had a very pleasant visit and I drew the raffle, judged the May Queens and the dog show. All in all we had a very pleasant day.
Tuesday 6 May
My Consort and I met with David King from the Salford Prayer Network in the Mayor's Parlour to reflect on the past year and to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for a very successful year in office. In the evening we attended a commemoration of Yom Hasikaron (Remembrance Day) at The Bayit, Salford. It was also a day to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut ( the anniversary of the Independence of Israel) a group of young people who had come to Salford from Israel for the special occasion, led the ceremony and talked about their experiences living in Israel.
Wednesday 7 May
My Mayoress and I attended a Women of the North Luncheon at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. I was pleased to be invited and met many women from the North West who have worked for the voluntary sector and also some of the Mayors and Mayoresses from Greater Manchester.
In the evening my Consort and I attended an RAF Presentation at the Imperial War Museum North, Old Trafford. We heard from the officers of the many varied professional job opportunities there are in the RAF and the TA.
Thursday 8 May
I chaired my last Charity Committee meeting. At the end of the meeting I thanked all my committee who have worked really hard over the year to raise over £45,000.00 for my charities. Well done and thank you to all the people who have contributed to the charies.
In the afternoon I welcomed 12 young people and members of the Friends of Chernobyl's children into the Mayor's Parlour. The young people come over to Salford for one month of love, good food, care and attention to help them boost their immune system. They arrive with very little and go home healther and with a suitcase filled to bursting with clothes, shoes, a year's supply of vitamin pills and goodies for them and their families. It is the least we can do to help these young people from Chernobyl.
Friday 9 May
My Consort and I attended a "Young at Heart Event" at Buile Hill Park Hall. The event was organised by the Salford Older Peoples Forum to promote services for people growing older in Salford and to promote a positive image of older citizens in society. A good day was had by all.
Later we attended a 5th anniversary of Reache North West at Salford Royal Hospital. Salford Reache (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Centre for Healthcare Professionals education) gives support to health workers from other countries with education, English, getting into work and examination preparation to enable them to work in Britain. I met some of the students from many countries and was pleased to hear many had been through the training and had obtained placements in our hospitals and clinics.
In the evening I attended a "Giving Event" at Salford Masonic Hall, Hemsley House, The Crescent, Salford. The evening was organised by Salford Freemasonry to present donations to local community charities and to my Mayor's Charity. I was very happy to receive a cheque and to listen to the many voluntary organisations telling us about their work. This was the first time a giving event had been organised by the freemasons and they hope to make it an annual event. I thanked them for my donation and wished them well for the future.
Saturday 10 May
I attended an award ceremony at Pendleton College, Salford. I gave a short speech on the importance of learning for adults and a few personal comments about my learning as I have got older. It was good to see so many people receiving their certificates and to see their families and friends who have supported them through their training. Well done to them all. I am sure they will go on to bigger and better things. Following this my consort and I attended a luncheon and AGM to celebrate the Centenary of the Inauguration of Catholic Woman's League, Salford Branch, at the Midland Hotel, Manchester. We heard speeches from the National President and Bishop Brain of Salford. It was a very pleasant lunch and afternoon.
Sunday 11 May
We attended a rugby match between Swinton Lions and York City Knights at Sedgley Park, Whitefield. It was an entertaining match but sadly Swinton lost 50-28.
Monday 12 May
My consort and I attended the Annual Visit to the Salford Children's Holiday Camp, Prestatyn and Lledr Hall, North Wales. We were joined by the Chairman, Councillor Bernard Pennington, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Booth Charities and the Chairman of the Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust who over the years have donated grants for the holiday camp and Lledr Hall. Several members of the council also attended with two members of staff. We received glowing reports from the managers of the two establishments and inspected the changes that had taken place over the years. I am very pleased the council can still provide the children of Salford with two wonderful holiday places in Wales for the less well off.
Tuesday 13 May
I chaired the Council Agenda Setting Group in preparation for the Council AGM on 21 May.
Wednesday 14 May
My Consort and I attended a Salix Homes Spring Carnival where I gave a welcoming speech and opened the event. The day was well attended and it gave the residents of Salford an opportunity to have a say in how their homes should be run and to have an input into the consultation on regeneration of their areas.
In the evening I hosted a reception for the Mayoral staff who have served me so well in my Mayoral year. I thanked them for doing a great job, nothing has been too much trouble and every engagement I have attended has run like clockwork. Thank you seems such a small thing to say for doing so much.
Thursday 15 May
My Mayoress, Consort and I joined the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside,the High Sheriff of Mersyside, Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Liverpool and Manchester, the Mayors of Sefton and Wirrall on board HMS Middleton for a VIP transit along Manchester Ship Canal. The weather couldn't have been better, we had a tour of the ship, learned a great deal about the ship and all that it gets involved in.
The HMS Middleton will be moored at Salford Quays for the weekend when school children will have an opportunity to visit and look round.
In the evening Mr. John Wilkinson the chairman of Salford City Reds invited my Consort and I to the match between Salford and Celtic Crusaders. I am pleased to say we cheered Salford on to win the match 24-22.
Friday 16 May
I was happy to visit Heartly Green, an older peoples home in Irlam, to congratulate "Flo" on her 100 birthday. I also had the pleasure of opening her birthday card from the queen, Flo was most impressed. I left the residents enjoying a great birthday party.
In the evening I was invited to attend the Rotary Club of Worsley's Charter Anniversary Dinner, at the Novotel, Worsley. No speeches this time just enjoyed the dinner and listening to all the good work done by the members of the Rotary Club and Rotary International.
Saturday 17 May
My Consort and I enjoyed a concert given by Irlam Male Voice Choir, held at St. Paul's Methodist Church Irlam. We listened to some wonderful music and even joined in one or two songs. The event was well attended and we all had a good night.
Sunday 18 May
At lunch time I cut a ribbon and declared a park bench in Peel Park, Little Hulton open. This is not an ordinary bench it is one the young people of Little Hulton, together with Salford City Environmental Education Service and the Youth Service had designed and made themselves. It is in the shape of a foot to depict our carbon footprint. It also has several plaques integrated into the bench giving messages on how to reduce our carbon footprint. Well done to all, it is a feature well worth seeing.
Monday 19 May
I welcomed a group of French Exchange students into the Mayor's Parlour. The group are connected to Walkden High School and the students from Walkden made a visit to France in March. The exchanges are to enable the students to learn and to give them an opportunity to speak a foreign language. The young people were excited to be in Salford and looked forward to a busy week. In the afternoon I together with the Mayor Elect and officers held a rehearsal for the Mayoral Installation on Wednesday.
Tuesday 20 May
I chaired a meeting of the Agenda Setting Group and in the afternoon I attended my last Citizenship Ceremony in the Council Chamber. I have enjoyed these ceremonies and wish all our new citizens well. In the evening my Consort and I attended the Mayor of Stockport's Civic Reception. We had a lovely meal and I wished the new Mayor all the best for her year in office.
Wednesday 21 May
My last day as Mayor of the city of Salford. In the morning I chaired the council meeting and after lunch I chaired the AGM and Mayoral Installation ceremony. I congratulated the Mayor, Councillor Margaret Morris and hope she has a great year.
Thank you all for taking time to read my diary over the past year. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it.
Valerie May Burgoyne.
Mayor of Salford 2007/08
Wednesday 21 May
It was my great privilege to be installed as Mayor of Salford. I will be supported by my friend Mrs. Anne Walters who will be my Mayoress. My intention is to raise the aspirations of the young people of Salford who have immense talent, passion and commitment and to act as an ambassador for the City. I promise to uphold the dignity of the office.
In the evening the Mayoress and I attended a performance of The Scarlet Pimpernel at The Lowry performed by the Salford Musical Theatre Company. The cast performed brilliantly and we all enjoyed a great evening. Please do support this company who has a proud history of performing musicals in Salford.
Thursday 22 May
We attended Westwood Park Primary School and joined the children in a class lesson. We learnt how the body works and the effects of things that can harm it. The children were very well behaved and were very enthusiastic about the lesson. Thanks to the Head teacher Ms Whittaker, Natalie the teacher from Salford Life Education who made the lesson so interesting.
In the evening we attended a reception held by the Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen's Association to thank long service by members. This very worthwhile association provides help to any service men or women or their dependants and their help is as needed now as it was the in the Second World War. I would urge everyone to support this charity if they can.
Friday 23 May
The Mayoress and I joined many celebrities at the Lowry Hotel at the Manchester Evening news annual Diary Event.
Sunday 25 May
We attended a narrow boat rally as guests of Worsley Cruising Club for their 50th anniversary on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Astley. There was a church service followed by a sail down the canal and a presentation ceremony. I was joined by the Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Rona Winkworth. Again the various clubs present raise money for charities at the same time enjoying themselves. It was a lovely day, one I would recommend to families.
In the evening we attended a fund raising event in aid of The Salfordian held at Taylor Brothers Club on Barton Lane in Eccles. Also there were Ian Stewart MP and his wife along with various councillors and John Wilkinson and Trish Goldsmith from Salford City Reds who do so much to raise funds for The Salfordian.
Monday 26 May
We joined churches from Salford as they walked through Manchester.We watched as the church members and children (who looked really smart in their dresses and suits) at St Philip's in Encombe Place. A service was held in Albert square by the Bishop of Bolton, Rt. Rev. C. Edmonson. The Lord Mayor of Manchester and her Mayoress, myself and the Mayoress of Salford walked with the Churches to the Cathedral where we again watched as the churches walked past. It was a very windy day and the men and women carrying the banners did an amazing job.The event was well supported with many people lining the streets to watch. Thank you to all who took part to represent Salford, we are very proud of you especially the children.
Wednesday 28 May
The Mayoress and I were guests of St. Luke's Arts and Drama Society at St Lukes Parish Hall on Derby Road, off Liverpool Street. We watched a performance of OKLAHOMA and it was a rousing success.The cast and producers are not professional actors and they give up their free time to rehearse, build scenery, choreograph and provide the musical backing to the show. This is a prime example of the talent and commitment of the people of Salford. Thanks to our host Chairman Paul Whittle and John Bradley President for making us feel so welcome.
Thursday 29 May
We attended, together with the Lord Mayor of Manchester, a fashion show at Manchester Town hall. Final year students from Salford University exhibited their designs .They were well supported by family and friends - again a real example of Salford talent.
Friday 30 May
We attended a Breakfast event at Manchester United to showcase the new Evolution Suite. We had our picture taken with the trophies and were given a tour of United's ground. Again we were made very welcome and we are looking forward to attending the league matches when they begin in August.
Saturday 31 May
On Sunday we were guests along with other Mayors from Greater Manchester at the Catholic Fellowship 50th Jubilee celebrations in Bolton. The church service was to celebrate the fellowship and the work they do in helping people with disability to become integrated and enjoy full membership of the church family.
Everyone there enjoyed the service and I wish them well for the future.
Sunday 1 June
This was the Mayor's Civic Sunday. The parade started at Beech Street Primary School in Winton and although it rained heavily we processed to Holy Cross R.C. Church for the service. My thanks to all who took part and to Father Michael Ryan for hosting the service, to the choir and chaplaincy from Salford Royal FT Hospital for their participation and to all the people who took part in the procession, especially the Parade Commander, Ivor Williams. It was really enjoyable and a day made very special for me by the efforts of everyone who took part.
This page was last updated on 9 March 2010
