Mayor's Column: Councillor Billy Sheerin looks back at his final few months as Mayor of Rochdale

Date published: 23 May 2021

Councillor Billy Sheerin was sworn in as the Mayor of Rochdale at the annual Mayor Making Ceremony on Wednesday 22 May 2019.

Usually, the mayoral year comes to an end the following May, but due to the coronavirus crisis which resulted in remaining engagements being cancelled and his mayoral year subsequently cut short, Councillor Sheerin was offered the chance to stay on as Mayor of Rochdale for another term (May 2020 – May 2021).

This column is his last one about his final few months as Mayor of Rochdale.

Councillor Aasim Rashid and his wife, Rifit, were sworn into office as the new mayor and mayoress during a ceremony at Middleton Arena on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
 

Read more: Councillor Aasim Rashid is the new Mayor of RochdalePublished: 21 May 2021

 

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The mayoral role plays a very important part in the council; it is a position of authority, but also a position of privilege and honour, which must be handled carefully with humility and understanding.

I have altogether had 10 months of being a ‘proper’ mayor and 14 months of being a symbolic mayor, during which time I chaired various Zoom meetings, and there were very few civic events I could physically take part in, all due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, what I shall not suffer from is standing down as, sadly, it feels as though I stood down those 14 months ago. But it has still been nice to be called Mr Mayor!

I have enjoyed the privilege of being the mayor because it allowed me to meet many amazing and wonderful people who do so much good work for the benefit of the people of the borough.

I have made many new friends and want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank them for their support and contribution for making our town a better place to live.

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The reason last month’s column did not appear was due to the local elections. We have a period of purdah that does not permit any comments that could be considered to give a political advantage. So, here we will do a lot of catching up on my last few engagements as the Mayor of Rochdale.

One of my highlights from the past few weeks was getting my second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The mayoress and I were vaccinated together at Number One Riverside, and we are certainly looking forward to getting out and about a bit more!

Speaking of Covid-19 vaccinations, it was National Day of Reflection on 23 March, and to commemorate the occasion I presented certificates of recognition to local doctors that have organised the rollout of the vaccine programme across the borough. This was actually my first official engagement of the year, and I couldn’t have been prouder to have spent it with those that have shown outstanding work and dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic.

These doctors are all wonderful people who demonstrate our NHS at its very best. They have given all of us hope in that we who have had the jab, now have a level of defence that will ensure that if we are unfortunate to catch Covid-19, it most likely will not be fatal. I think they are very special.
 

Read more: Borough comes together on National Day of ReflectionPublished: 24 March 2021

 

 

I was very saddened to hear the news that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, had died on Friday 9 April, aged 99. Rochdale has been fortunate to welcome Prince Philip and the Queen to the borough in the past when Touchstones opened, which many will remember fondly.

Many years ago, when I was a young schoolboy, the royal family were very much respected. We were reminded of their existence whenever we went to the cinema, because at the end of the film we all didn’t rush out but stood to attention for the national anthem. A film of a fluttering Union Jack was shown, and some sang God Save The King. Then it was a walk home and, if I was lucky, a bag of chips. The national anthem was also played at the end of social functions like ballroom dancing and of course the village pantomimes.

Many of you will know that I am Castleton born and bred, but what you probably don’t know is that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh came and spent the night in the village on many occasions. Even though Castleton might not have the splendour of Balmoral, it was a haven for the royal train to stop overnight when they were paying a visit to the north of England. The name of the sidings that the train pulled into with our royal guests was Bags Yard. It was always kept secret, and no one was supposed to know they were here, but the giveaway was the additional number of policemen that appeared in the village and the streets close by.

Prince Philip’s work has created a wonderful legacy in initiatives like the Duke of Edinburgh Award which so many local children have benefited from for decades. He has been a wonderful servant to the country and my thoughts and prayers are still with his family.
 

Read more: Tributes paid to Duke of Edinburgh, Prince PhilipPublished: 09 April 2021

 

 

A commemoration service was held for the Duke at Rochdale’s Parish Church St Chad’s, of which 30 people were invited to pay respects. A two-minutes silence was also organised at Rochdale Cenotaph to coincide with the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. You can read more about these events here:

 

Read more: Rochdale observes two minutes' silence for late Duke of EdinburghPublished: 21 April 2021

 

 

Ken Smith was named the Mayor’s Charity Quiz winner in early April. People from all over the country entered - from places such as Cheshire and even as far as the Isle of Wight. This has been my biggest mayoral fundraiser this year, as the usual Charity Ball and other mayoral events were cancelled.

I want to thank Hanson Springs for sponsoring the quiz booklets, the councillors who collectively donated money for prizes, and Councillor Allen Brett who was extremely helpful in getting the word out. I appreciated all your help, and the support of all those who entered.

 

 

I really enjoyed buzzing around on one of the new Lime scooters during a trial at Dunelm car park. I have already noticed them being put to good use, with some spotted outside Nye Bevan House and around Rochdale town centre. My dad would have loved them, especially the electric bikes.

At the age of 89 my father was still riding around Castleton village and people would stop me in the street to say, ‘he needs to stop he’s going to get himself killed!’… but I figured it was easier for him than walking. He was a legend in his own lifetime.

 

 

As we couldn’t host the traditional Mayor’s Civic Carol Service in December last year due to Covid-19, a civic ‘thanksgiving’ service was organised for 2021 instead. This was held in St John The Baptist RC Church on Sunday 2 May and was kept low-key because of restricted numbers in churches. I invited the Bishop of Salford John Arnold and I was thankful to Rochdale Music Service who provided entertainment.

It was Gallipoli Day on 12 May and there was no official event organised this year, so I arranged with Teresa Harrington to read a letter of hers at Rochdale Cenotaph. Teresa’s uncle was killed in the Battle of Gallipoli and he sent his brother (Teresa’s father) the letter during the war. When I arrived, there were some local veterans also present. We made sure Gallipoli Day was not forgotten in Rochdale.

I have stood on the beaches in Gallipoli, and you cannot fail to feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you think about the awful events that happened there.

 

 

It was also the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion (RBL) the same week, on Saturday 15 May. Wreaths were laid at cenotaphs across the country at 9am, recreating the moment 100 years ago when the British Legion was formed at the Whitehall Cenotaph. I laid one at Rochdale memorial gardens with Wing Commander David Forbes.

I am proud to acknowledge the vital support that the RBL have provided for our armed forces personnel and veterans since its conception in 1921. 100 years on, they continue to respond to the changing needs of the armed forces community; achieved by providing small interventions, to life-changing, and sometimes lifesaving, support.

The annual Poppy Appeal runs for several weeks before Remembrance Sunday raising much-needed funds for the legion and acts as a reminder of those who fought for the freedom we enjoy today, many paying the ultimate sacrifice.

May God bless them all; we shall never forget.

 

Read more: New displays commemorate centenary of Royal British LegionPublished: 15 May 2021

 

 

Lastly, I want to say a sincere thank you to David Forbes who recently completed his charity walk for my chosen charities - Springhill Hospice, Parkinson’s UK, Leukaemia UK, Hydropool, Shopmobility, M6 Theatre and other local charities and groups that have missed out on so much during the pandemic.

He has travelled the equivalent distance of Rochdale to Prague after walking 731 miles over recent months and raised a massive £500. David has such a big heart, and I am so pleased he did this to help the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.
 

Read more: Wing Commander David Forbes walks equivalent distance of Rochdale to Prague for charityPublished: 16 May 2021