Weekly Column: Mayor Mohammed Zaman

Date published: 01 November 2018

Winter is fast approaching with the cold weather on our doorsteps and dark nights drawing in after the clocks went back. I urge people this winter time to look after themselves, get your flu jabs, ensure the safety of your loved ones and don’t forget to check on your neighbours and senior citizens. Kindness is a simple smile.

Week commencing Monday 22 – Sunday 28 October

Monday, I had a visit from the Middleton business, Harvey's The Jewellers. This is a family-run business established in 1986 and is based in Middleton Shopping Centre, specialising in bespoke jewellery design.

Harvey Morgan, along with his colleagues and councillor for North Middleton, Donna Williams, joined me at the town hall to discuss fundraising ideas and supporting the Mayor’s Charity. Harvey's The Jewellers regularly support local projects like Springhill Hospice – one of my chosen charities for the year. It is always nice to see local businesses supporting the local community and making a difference.

Tuesday morning, I visited Tudor Court nursing home to surprise 102-year-old Edna Hughes for her birthday. The nursing home was filled with staff and friends who gave gifts and flowers before we sang happy birthday, ate some cake and took many photographs. Edna was over the moon with joy at the surprise.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123326/mayor-drops-into-tudor-court-to-surprise-102-year-old-patient-edna-on-her-birthday

Edna told me that her secret to a long healthy and happy life is having many good people around you who are helpful and supportive, and you must always be friendly to others. Thank you to everyone who came and to Paul Lavin, the scheme manager, and all the staff and visitors of the nursing home who made it such a special day for Edna.

I had a meeting with the Mayor of Oldham, Javid Iqbal, and discussed our close connections in terms of Rochdale and Oldham both having large Kashmiri, Bengali and Pakistani communities. We also discussed organising a joint project to raise funds for our chosen charities in Oldham and Rochdale. It would be nice to bring my chosen charity Springhill Hospice together with Javid’s charities of Maggie’s Oldham and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. We hope to have organised something within the new year.

 

 

I visited Gorton Monastery in Manchester for a Black History Honours event, together with other Greater Manchester mayors. Invited guests received honorary awards from the Queen and I was privileged to meet these incredible people who provide a valuable service to their communities; always supporting local projects and helping other people.

It is always a pleasure visiting this historical place and making connections with people across the Greater Manchester area.

Wednesday, the annual raising of the Azad Kashmir flag took place at Rochdale Town Hall for the National Day of Kashmir.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123292/flag-raising-ceremony-at-rochdale-town-hall-for-national-day-of-kashmir

It was good to see young people attend this event and learn of the struggles faced in Kashmir every day. We cut a cake to mark the day and all had a good time whilst they offered their support to Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 

I had lunch with Hopwood DePree who I previously met when I had a tour of the Hopwood estate. Hopwood came to see me to discuss his progress and tell me of his plans with the hall. He has given himself a mission to complete but has an amazing vision for the building.

We discussed how he is very happy with the support he is receiving from the borough and from agencies and the council. The road to the building’s recovery is not easy but Hopwood is very enthusiastic to develop and restore the Grade II* listed building into the former art it was.

Once finished, the hall will be a good place for seminars, exhibitions, conferences and other special events that the community and businesses can benefit from. I wish him luck with the remaining work and hope the hall continues to push forward into the future.

 

 

I had a visit in the Mayor’s Parlour from a 9-year-old violinist from Yorkshire. James Uttley was attending a wedding at the town hall when I invited him and his family into the parlour as he was so talented. James was extremely good at playing Bollywood songs and I hope he sticks with his musical talent.

I attended the Kashmir Youth Project on Belfield Road for a Mayor’s Charity Dinner, in aid of my chosen charities. The evening had very good attendance and entertainment was provided by an artist from Nottingham, Ruby Akhtar, who specialises in Indian and Pakistan Folk music.

Volunteers sold raffle tickets and a small auction was also held after dinner. A total of £1,500 was raised for the Mayor’s Charity.

Thank you to councillors Shakil Ahmed, Dalaat Ali and Faisal Rana for taking part in fundraising for my chosen charities this year, as well as Farooq Qureshi and other members of Rochdale Kashmiri Association for organising the wonderful evening.

 

 

Thursday, I went to Langley, Middleton to present certificates to 12 young people who had taken part in the CSCS programme. This programme is a 2-week course with embedded employability and practical work, relating to construction and encouraging individuals to develop skills within the area of construction such as bricklaying and electrical engineering. The course was supported by various organisations to help push young people who were unsure of their future.

Thank you to councillor Susan Smith and her colleagues who organised the training, provided regular support and brought these young people together to improve their lives.

Evening, I went back to Gorton Monastery for the RAF 100 concert with the North Region Air Cadet Band. The night included some amazing performances and once again, it was a very good get together with people from all over Greater Manchester to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Air Force.

I certainly enjoyed the bands and soloists as they performed old songs from the period of the war. Thank you to Wing Commander David Forbes for inviting me.

Friday, I attended Holy Trinity Church in Littleborough with Tony Lloyd MP and councillor Janet Emsley to watch the Sound of Music, performed by the Youth Theatre Workshop. This was a very good performance.

The church was packed with families and friends of the performers, plus the local community, to witness the young people perform to the best of their ability. The group had been rehearsing for some time and did an amazing job at delivering their dialogues, the way they entered and exited the stage and their acting, dancing and singing was applaudable. Thank you to those who have helped these young people reach their full potential and showcase their talent.

Also thank you to Reverend Ian Bullock, the Church Warden Frank Kershaw, Richard Rogers and the rest of the team who made this performance possible. The performance was held at the church as part of Holy Trinity’s fundraising for Project 2020, which will support renovations of the church.

 

 

Saturday, I was invited to Norden’s annual Halloween party in Jubilee Park, organised by Paul Ellison.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123379/norden-jubilee-park-is-spooktacular-for-annual-halloween-party

The party hosted a number of families, plus ex-councillor Jane Gartside and Norden councillors Michael Holly, Peter Winkler and James Gartside who joined me. I was asked to judge the fancy dress costumes and decide what child was the winner – this was very difficult as there were so many good costumes to choose from.

All that attended had a fantastic evening with dancing entertainment and the stalls were busy selling black peas. I enjoyed seeing the neighbourhood working together.

 

 

Sunday, I went to Middleton Cricket Club to see the Chrysanthemum Society. I was surprised to see so many different colours and varieties of flowers from keen gardeners who work with the society.

Over 150 blooms were entered for us to judge and they were all wonderful displays.

One area of concern that stood out to me when shown around was the lack of young people involved with the society. I would like to encourage young people to be part of the group and to learn the skills of gardening and enjoy the nature around us. The Middleton Chrysanthemum Society has been running for 114 years (this show being the 103rd) and I hope the society can gain more members and continue to grow.

I was pleased to present trophies at the annual show and want to thank the members for doing a very good job. Thank you to Alan Ormerod and Paul Grundy who entertained me for the day and took the time to show me around and to all the winners who participated.