Weekly Column: Mayor Billy Sheerin

Date published: 29 September 2019

This weekly column from the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Billy Sheerin, describes his recent trip to Germany with The Friends of Bielefeld during the week commencing Monday 9 September to Sunday 15 September.

He also mentions the places he has been and the people he has met during the week Monday 16 September to Sunday 22 September 2019.

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From Monday 9 - Saturday 14 September I enjoyed a trip to Bielefeld, Germany with the local Friends of Bielefeld group. Bielefeld is a twin town of Rochdale, like Tourcoing in France, and the two have been linked for many years.

On the first night (Monday 9), the group of six from Rochdale, including myself, made ourselves familiar with our hosts who we would be staying with for the next week. My hosts were Mechthild Froehich and Dr Manfred Froehich, a retired lecturer from Bielefeld University, and they were absolutely wonderful. I was looked after beyond belief. They made me feel so at home.

To start the week, we went into the centre of Bielefeld and I must say what a beautiful place it is – it’s much larger than I anticipated. We had a tour of the city and nearby sites such as a castle and learnt of the history of the place.

 

 

We then had a tour of a local company Schüco, who manufacture frames for double glazing and architectural featured windows. Active in more than 80 countries, it is a renowned company worldwide.

I have been out of engineering for a good ten plus years now and I was fascinated to watch all the workers and the modern equipment; the industry’s not like it was when I was in the factory. This was a really eye-opening tour of the German industry.

 

 

We made a civic visit to the bürgermeister (mayor) at Belefield Rathaus (town hall). At the town hall, I met Fräulein Karin Shrader who was the 1st Mayor of Belefield and presented her with two whiskey tumblers inscribed with the Rochdale coat of arms. We spoke about Brexit and made it clear that we wish our social ties to remain strong no matter the outcome.

 

 

Next was a tour of the town Soest, which was very similar to Stratford-upon-Avon with two cathedrals, before taking a tram to Möhnesee, a famous reservoir and dam in North Germany, for a cruise.

 

 

I felt rather sad as I stood looking out at Möhnesee dam. During WW2 in May 1943, a specially developed ‘bouncing bomb’, released by a British Royal Air Force squadron, breached the dam and caused catastrophic flooding, resulting the deaths of more than 1,300 men, women and children. In the wide torrent of water and at the confluence of the Möhnesee and Ruhr rivers, almost 900 people drowned and more than 50 members of the British Air Force staff also lost their lives.

In October 1943, the dam began reconstruction where some workers also lost their lives to labour. It was incredibly moving to look at the memorial, which was installed in 2015 as a symbol of peace.

 

 

 

The end of the week (Friday 13) was a free day, so my hosts took me to a nearby spa town called Bad Salzuflen. Bad Salzuflen was definitely unique, I witnessed something I have never seen or experienced before.

‘Graduation springs’ offer therapeutic remedies within the town, where natural springs coming out of the ground run into a wall of trees and when the wind blows, you are told to sit or stand in front of the wall and inhale the saltwater to promote better health. The springs are believed to improve lung function, prevent respiratory infections and alleviate asthma, to list a few benefits. I was amazed.

 

 

We all joined together for one last time for a farewell evening, which was emotional. We sang ‘Goodnight Ladies’ and then ‘Should old acquaintance be forgot’ together.

It is so important to keep Rochdale’s twin links with both our European neighbours, Tourcoing and Bielefeld, open. I encourage the young people of Rochdale to please get involved to allow the link to carry on for many years to come, the groups are always looking for new blood. There are great opportunities to experience these places through the eyes of a local family.

 

 

When I arrived back in Rochdale on Monday (16 September), I met with comedian Jimmy Cricket at Rochdale Town Hall to promote the upcoming production 'Let's Hear It For The Wee Man'. This is a musical concert, written by Jimmy Cricket, in aid of the Mayor's Charity Appeal and will premiere this year at Rochdale Town Hall on Remembrance Sunday.

More information on the event can be found here:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/62591/

 

 

Wednesday (18 September) I made a company visit to Wireless CCTV Ltd at Kingsway Business Park. They are a big local success story, starting off at a very small premises in 2001 before developing to where they are now, receiving a number of awards and commendations including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. I’m pleased they stayed in Rochdale with their recent move to Kingsway and wish them all the success in future.

Thursday, I attended Ealees Pond at Hollingworth Lake to celebrate the end of the Ealees Pond improvement project. A new scheme was also launched to plant 170 new plants and trees at the site.

Council rangers and the Friends of Hollingworth Lake have been working to improve and enhance the pond and meadow area for visitors to enjoy for some time. I thank you all for your hard work, making the area accessible for visitors.

 

 

Healthwatch Rochdale invited me to their first forum of 2019 at the Lighthouse Project in Middleton. With the theme of ‘Choosing a Care Home’, various guest speakers and businesses attended to provide members of the public with information about what they should be looking for when choosing a care home.

 

 

Friday (20 September), a flag raising was held at the town hall for International Day of Peace. Rochdale’s diverse communities gathered, ringing bells for peace, and I raised the Rochdale Peace Flag. I felt it was important to outline this year’s United Nations Peace Day theme, Climate Action for Peace.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/130383/peace-flag-raised-at-rochdale-town-hall

 

 

I had a really special night at the Save Samantha Masquerade Ball with my wife, Mayoress Lynn Sheerin on Friday evening. I have never seen the town hall entertained with acrobats and opera singers, but I’m glad I did.

Samantha has come so far on her journey and is so determined to make her charity, the EDS Foundation which was launched on the night, a success. I was honoured to be invited to such a special occasion and send her well wishes for the future.

 

 

Finally, on Saturday (21 September) I celebrated 2 years of the Ian Newman Community Film Club at Bamford Chapel and Norden United Reform Church. The building was transformed into a community hub when the pews were taken out, making it a large open space for locals to make use of.

To celebrate the club's 2 year anniversary, The Greatest Showman was played, which I had never seen, and I loved it. The night took me back in time to when I was a boy and I used to pay a penny to watch black and white films at my local church including Our Gang and films starring Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. A good night was had by all.

 

 

Mayoral Invitations

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

Email: mayoral@rochdale.gov.uk

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