Weekly Column: Mayor Billy Sheerin

Date published: 25 October 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 14 October to Sunday 20 October 2019.

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To start my mayoral week, I had a lovely afternoon tea with representatives of the Jolly Josh charity in the Mayor's Parlour. Jolly Josh was awarded a £500 donation from the Mayor’s Charity Appeal last year and are an amazing group of people, hosting weekly stay and play sessions for children with disabilities and/or additional and complex needs.

I wanted to thank the founder, Carole Kelly, and the charity members for the work that Jolly Josh has done, and is still doing, for the Rochdale community. Before Carole set the group up, there was no facility like it in Rochdale – I didn’t know this, and I bet a lot of other people didn’t too.

I really appreciate them inviting me to their second anniversary which was held on 22 September and wish them all the best for the future.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/130493/jolly-josh-2nd-anniversary-celebration-raises-over-£1800

 

 

Primary school children swapped the classroom for Rochdale Town Hall’s council chambers on three days last week. Kingsway High School and Broadfield Community Primary School students took part in debates, mock elections and question and answer sessions to inspire and encourage the next generation of voters to engage in the political process.

Raising awareness of the importance of voting in local elections, Graham Barker, the council’s electoral services officer, has invited local primary and high schools to take part in sessions at Rochdale Town Hall. Several have taken up the offer, but I would like to see more take it up as this is a very important issue; the borough had the lowest turnout of voters this year, with voter turnout in Rochdale falling below 30%.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/127749/voter-turnout-falls-below-30pc

 

 

Monday evening, Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival was officially started as I unveiled a plaque for Annie and Frank Maskew at Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre, commemorating the couple who made the festival possible.

What an enjoyable experience this was. I ended up with two books by two authors who attended – Will Hussey’s ‘How to squeeze the max out of life’ and Erica McAlister’s ‘The secret life of flies’. Will gave a very good presentation on his book, it was very entertaining and funny, and Erica, who works at the Natural History Museum, told us some amazing facts about flies.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/130754/festival-launch-celebrates-love-in-the-library

 

 

Thursday (17 October), Rochdale Crucial Crew gave a presentation on child safety online at the Crown Oil Arena to primary school pupils.

Local organisations such as Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), St John Ambulance, Greater Manchester Police, Travelsafe, R.N.L.I., British Transport Police and Rochdale Safeguarding Board were keen to give talks and let pupils see the impact of safety on the internet and social media.

It was a really informative session, even I learnt things I never knew before.

 

 

Thursday evening, I was invited to HEYKIDS production of Bugsy Malone at Heywood Civic Centre. Myself and my wife thoroughly enjoyed this, as we have always been into theatre and dramatics. The children gave very mature performances and we all had a fun filled night.

Being a long-life theatre goer, I have known one of the producers of the show, Joanne Marshall, since she was a youngster herself – she was in the first ever HEYKIDS production 30 years ago and since then has produced at least 19 shows.

I had a fantastic evening.

 

 

Up to 50 exhibitors were all in one space at The Lighthouse Project on Friday (18 October) representing the different areas of health and wellbeing for the 'Health & Community Services 2' event.

Held in Middleton Shopping Centre, attendees included the CCG, Rochdale Council and private organisations such as The Pantry, Central Foodbank, Money Advice, Photographic Group, Music Group, Men in Sheds (Woodwork) and the Art Room.

This event was right up my street being the Assistant to the Portfolio Holder for Adult Care, I enjoyed seeing lots of people who I have been friends with for years on provider stalls and also meeting new people.

There is help out there for everyone; it’s just a case of finding the right thing for you.

Thank you to Tony Ettenfield from The Lighthouse Project and Better Health 4 Middleton who organised this and works tirelessly for the community of Middleton.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/130944/carers-fair-at-the-lighthouse-project

 

 

I was invited for a tour of Holcombe Moor near Ramsbottom on Saturday (19 October). This is an army cadet training ground and I met some of the army cadets and witnessed what their life was like at Holcombe, along with the Mayor of Tameside Leigh Drennan, the Deputy Mayor of Oldham Jenny Harrison, and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Mark Adlestone OBE.

As we arrived at the entrance of the camp, the guards said, ‘who goes there?’ and I shouted, ‘the Mayor of Rochdale’ and then they saluted me! I felt like a king. As we drove up, the Guard of Honour was there waiting to welcome us.

A corps of flutes and drums played songs too. The band was only formed in May, but they already had 16 songs under their belt. We then went to the rifle range where we had to lie down and shoot at the targets – this was not a good idea with my varifocal glasses.

What a lovely group of girls and boys these cadets are, and what a wonderful establishment. They are taught respect and dignity and were extremely polite. Thank you to Sharman Birtles GPDL, honorary colonel, for organising this and inviting us.

 

 

 

To end the week, on Saturday evening I attended Broadfield Park Hotel for Rochdale Parachute Regimental Association’s dinner for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.

The Battle of Arnhem took place in Holland in September 1944. The battle, which involved around 10,000 men, saw three British brigades form a division tasked with securing and holding the Rhine Bridge in Holland. Known as Operation Market Garden, this was the largest airborne operation of its time.

I am always happy to support our armed forces, and it is important that we remember all those involved in the wars.

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