Weekly Column: Mayor Billy Sheerin

Date published: 30 August 2019

This weekly column from the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin, is about the places he has been and the people he has met during the week commencing Monday 19 August to Sunday 25 August 2019.

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To start the week off, on Monday I unveiled a plaque at Rochdale Connections Trust (RCT) to officially open their ground floor, following renovations that began in April. RCT is one of my chosen charities this year, so I was very pleased to do this for them.

I visited the charity on Drake Street some months ago and, to me, it looked sad and tired. With funding from The National Lottery Awards for All Fund, The Clothworkers’ Foundation, East Lancashire Masonic Charity and the RCT Youth Group, it has now been refurbished into a fit for purpose building providing absolutely spot on facilities.

It is sad that domestic abuse exists, but I’m glad we have this safe haven in Rochdale providing therapy and help to the people who need it.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127620/renovations-at-rochdale-connections-trust
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/129630/rochdale-connections-trust-benefit-from-generous-freemasons-grant

 

 

A community fun day was held at Robinson’s Common, Newbold on Tuesday (20 August), which was good fun. Organiser Angela Foster from the youth service held a previous fun day earlier in the summer, but unfortunately the rain came pouring down, so she decided to host a second one for all to enjoy.

Over 100 children were entertained as they enjoyed activities outside such as a bouncy castle, races, a wonderful face painter and a Skylight Circus Arts performance. It was a lovely event - thank goodness we were blessed with sunshine.

 

 

 

Thursday (22 August), I officially opened a new ultrasound clinic at Blue Pit Mill with the cutting of the ribbon. Medical Scans is a family run business offering the very best with up-to-date equipment. I had a scan of my hand which showed blue particles flying around; I said I must have royal blood!

It’s always nice to see new business ventures and I wish them all the very best.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/1/business-news/129967/new-private-ultrasound-scan-clinic-opens-in-castleton

 

 

Accompanied by the Mayoress, I had a lovely evening at the Springhill Hospice 2020 calendar launch also on Thursday. All of the images in the calendar are taken by local people and are such good quality; they are well worth the cost. The calendar gets better and better every year and I encourage all of the public to purchase one for this local worthy cause.

 

 

Friday evening, I was invited to Holy Trinity Church, Littleborough, for a preview evening of an art exhibition and enjoyed some lovely cheese and wine. This was an eye-opener for me as I have driven past the church many times over the years but had never been inside. It is an amazing building.

Over 75 pieces of art were on show, as well as a range of other unmounted art and craft stalls. The profits from the exhibition sales contributed to the Project 2020 pot, as the church are hoping for a lottery bid to create more community space in the building and put it to good use.

Saturday (24 August), a charity event for Hydro 16 was held at Rochdale Masonic Hall. Hydro 16 is also one of my chosen charities this year, so I’m always glad to meet up with David Richardson who has been working on getting a hydro pool for Castleton Leisure Centre for a while now.

The fundraising evening hosted a comedian and a terrific singer who got everyone moving. I won the tombola too. I believe having a hydrotherapy pool in Rochdale is a necessity, as they are proven to really help people who suffer with Parkinson’s. Bolton is currently the nearest hydro pool.

Sunday, I started the day at KYP for Rochdale’s Summer Science Extravaganza. I’ve got to say this was a tremendous event; it was one of the most enjoyable engagements I have attended so far.

People were there from the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, undergraduates who had completed degrees in all kinds of sciences hosted experiments, there were lots of futuristic displays, I sat in a planetarium which took me on a journey through the universe with asteroids flying at me and even a mini zoo came along with starfish, a skunk and a kookaburra was making all kinds of noise.

The world wouldn’t revolve as we know it without the scientific discoveries we have uncovered.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/129944/spectrum-of-science-celebrated-at-rochdale-summer-science-extravaganza

 

 

 

A community fun day was hosted at Broadfield Park in the blazing heat on Sunday afternoon. The day was hosted by Empowering Education - a female led organisation that helps women in Rochdale – in partnership with a number of local businesses and charities.

This was an amazing day out for the Rochdale community with inflatables, stalls, henna, raffles and live music performances. I toured all the stalls and attractions and was glad to see all having a good time on the bank holiday weekend.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/129997/bank-holiday-fun-day-raises-funds-for-smile-aid

 

 

Finally, I attended Moorhouse Methodist Church for Reverend Andrew Halstead’s welcome service. This was a lovely evening to welcome the new reverend who now has five different churches under his responsibility, including one in my constituency of Castleton which I am pleased about.

The service saw a full house, speeches were made and the whole evening had a nice feel. I wish him all the best at Moorhouse.

 

 

Mayoral Invitations

​​​​The Mayor welcomes invitations to events held by local organisations and individuals. Due to demand, it may not be possible for the Mayor to attend every event he is invited to.

To invite the Mayor to your event please complete the Mayor attendance form and return it to the Mayor's Officer.

Visit: www.rochdale.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/mayors/Pages/mayoral-invitations.aspx

Email: mayoral@rochdale.gov.uk

Tel: 01706 924773