Weekly Column: Mayor Mohammed Zaman

Date published: 09 August 2018

I am happy to see all the green flags flying high across our borough in all four townships. These are quality marks for Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and the Pennines and is something awarded after competitive judgement.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/121104/flags-fly-high-across-boroughs-green-spaces-and-parks

Rochdale in Bloom should be very proud to have achieved yet another prestigious mark. I want to thank all those involved for keeping the borough in their focus and maintaining a clean, green and in bloom town.

 

 

I also want to remind everyone that we have so many activities happening throughout the borough during the school holidays for families and young people. I hope everyone will take part in some of these activities as they are specially organised to help and keep families entertained over this time, like Rochdale Feel Good Festival and The Big Games in Broadfield Park.

Week commencing Monday 30 July – Sunday 5 August

Monday and Thursday, I had no engagements.

Tuesday, I attended the funeral service for Major Edmund Gartside at St Michael’s Church, Bamford. This was attended by Major Gartside’s family, friends and civic dignitaries such as the Lord Lieutenant of Manchester.

Beautiful messages of love and compassion were said, along with prayers, describing Edmund as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Major Gartside was an incredible man who achieved so much in his life and made a difference to those around him. He will be missed by many – God rest his soul.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/122/notices/120585/major-edmund-gartside-dies-peacefully-at-home-surrounded-by-family

At the town hall on Tuesday and Wednesday there were performances of a show entitled ‘Treasure Island’, which I really enjoyed. Over 300 children came to take part in the sessions; learning through entertainment as they explored the archaeological building.

 

 

I am grateful that the company held a session for children with learning difficulties. I think it was fantastic for the children to engage with the town hall as many had not been inside before.

I went to Heywood Civic Centre to meet Heywood Pensioners who have meetings on the last Tuesday of every month. The group organise various activities, enjoy music, play bingo, host raffles and hold sessions to raise funds for their group.

 

 

The group raised issues of loneliness, social isolation, mental health and the impact changes to the benefits system has had. This is now all online and the group, along with other pensioner groups, have raised to me that they struggle to use a PC.

I think young people should spend more time with their elders as they can learn a lot from them based on their life stories… sometimes they just need somebody to lend them their ears.

Wednesday was the Minden Day flag raise outside the town hall. This is a flag raise held annually across the nation on 1 August to commemorate the battle at Minden, North Germany in 1759 during The Seven Years’ war.

 

 

This battle is also known as the Battle of Roses, as British Regiments advanced to the fight with white roses in their hats, plucked from the fields. The battle saw the British and Germans fight the French and Anglo Saxons.

This day was also celebrated as 50 years since the formation of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and celebrated British army’s participation in the war, which ended in 1766.

I then went to Crimble Croft Community Centre for National Play Day, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. The centre was packed with people and hosted stalls both inside and outside for people to enjoy.

 

 

There were bouncy castles, laser quest, a ball pond, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, model railways, den making, music, dancing, a children’s entertainer and an outdoor camping stall who do a lot of work in schools and at youth groups.

I thank Louise Kershaw, the centre manager, for bringing people together, creating cohesion and providing fun. I also thank community groups, volunteers and residents that attended as well as the councillors who supported me at this event.

Friday, I went to Heywood Cricket Club for Ken & Paul’s Walk for Parkinson. This was really amazing. When I arrived, there were over 100 people there of all different ages.

 

 

The walk is an annual event that was started in 2006 by Ken and Paul to raise money for Parkinson’s UK – a disease they suffer with.

It was nice to see the spirit of the residents who welcomed the walkers back, after travelling for three days to complete the charity walk from Chester to Heywood. I was among the crowd to welcome them back along with councillors Peter Rush and James Gartside who read out names of the winners and I was honoured to give medals.

This is an excellent event, showing amazing community spirit and I hope they raised the amount they hoped, to help with Parkinson’s research and finding a cure for those who suffer.

Saturday, I officially re-opened Reuse Littleborough at its new premises in an old Littleborough pub; the former Royal Oak Hotel.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/121101/reuse-littleborough-officially-reopened-by-mayor

Evening, I went to Deeplish Community Centre for a poetry event organised by Dr Shakoor of the Multi-Cultural Resource Centre. Over 150 people attended to listen to local, national and international poets who mesmerised and entertained the audience with a variety of genres like romantic, humorous and sad poetry.

 

 

Naghmana Kanwal, a well-known poet from Oldham and Tahira Rubab from Germany (who speaks 5 languages) received very high appraise from the audience, however I enjoyed every piece performed.

Thank you to Deeplish Community Centre for allowing the space to be used and to Dr Shakoor and his team for organising this, with the aim to promote literature.

Sunday, I attended Springhill Hospice for the annual Summer Garden Celebration, along with the deputy mayor and mayoress of Whitworth. This was a beautiful day for a tour.

 

 

The garden contained fruits, flowers, trees and vegetables that were all well maintained and nourished, allowing them to grow in a natural environment. It all looked wonderful and to top it off we were served pizza made from the fruits and vegetables grown in the garden.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/121152/springhill-hospice-summer-garden-celebration-raises-over-2000

Hundreds of relatives came throughout the day and volunteers to support the good work of the hospice. I thank Julie Halliwell (CEO of Springhill Hospice) and her team and a special thank you to the gardener at Springhill for taking care of this sensory environment, where people can sit peacefully.

I went to Falinge Park for an event involving a 1K and 5K run and I set up a Mayor’s Charity tombola stall.

Health and wellbeing are encouraged by many organisations and individuals within the borough. This is through various activities organised to encourage a better lifestyle and eating healthy food. These marathon runs were held to encourage residents to have an active lifestyle whilst making us of one of their local parks.

 

 

The park also hosted a large bouncy castle, stalls, games and had music which attracted the local community. Trophies were awarded to the winners of both marathons and I hope Falinge Community Hub can organise more of these events for residents in the future.

Lastly, I went to Milnrow for an The Cray Community Engagement Day. This was organised by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) through a grant called ‘Decide Together’ and local residents, in partnership with the charity ‘Mancunian Way’ to promote community cohesion and promote a better neighbourhood.

 

 

Local residents enjoyed a good afternoon in the nice weather with their families and friends and showed strong sense of community that promotes love, peace and harmony.

Sports activities were organised by Link4Life, as well as activities on offer by Mancunian Way, food, henna, face painting and dream tree for residents to voice their opinions.

I would like to thank Claire Lord from, Rebecca Ashworth and other members of the RBH team, Link4Life, Mancunian Way and local residents for organising such a wonderful event to bring the community together.