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May 25 EpilogueEncore
Just when you think it's safe to go out, someone hits you from the blindside!!
Who to blame & who to praise? I don't know, I'm sure.
It was just one helluva surprise when I went into the Town Council offices, expecting to do a short training session, and I finished up the recipient of a "This Is Your Life" style event complete with speeches,dvd presentation & banquet.
To everyone who attended, supplied photo's or other material, provided the meal, said nice things or whatever your contribution can I say "thank-you" - No - a thousand times thank-you. After all Mablethorpe & Sutton is my "adopted" home, my town of birth being Boston, but for the community to chose to mark the end of the mayoral year in such a touching manner has been a really humbling experience.
But, just as I had the baton passed to me, it now passes to another and I have no doubt, from the tone of her speech at the AGM of the Town Council, that Cllr Margaret Rolls intends to do a really good job too. Please support her as you all supported me & this area really will prosper.
Again, on behalf of myself & June, "Thank-you all for making my year what it was. Thank-you!!" - Words just don't seem enough
May 18 Final entryCan anyone else hear a fat lady tuning up???
It's May 18th & there are now less than 25hrs of being mayor to go & the last official duty has been completed. When I started this blog I knew that eventually this point would arrive but, now that it has, the whole term seems but a blink of an eye
Our round of civic services for the year concluded with visits to Alford at the end of April & Sleaford at the beginning of May. Sleaford was a good example of the traditional type whilst in stark contrast Alford was probably the best of the more modern ones we've attended.
In my last entry I forgot to mention the fine meal we had with the Trusthorpe Camera Club on the night of their annual presentations and whilst on the subject of presentations we also enjoyed our night at the Domino League presentations as well on the 7th.
Amongst the many meetings during this last month we saw the first, of what I hope will be the first of many, informal liason meeting between Town Council & ELDC. Being informal it is not open to the public & does not make any decisions, but it does allow both bodies to share thoughts on the future and take back to the official meetings of each how the other is thinking. Long-term I'm sure that this will enable both to work better with each other rather than against each other as it sometimes seems! Neighbourhood Management meetings during this time also seem to be making things happen in our area.
This final week has been full of diverse activities - a visit to the theatre in Louth, the investiture of the new Skegness mayor and the service of tribute in St Giles' church in Lincoln to the life of Chad Varah are just some of them. Chad, who died last November just 4 days short of his 96th birthday is best known to us as the inspirational founder of The Samaritans.
It's been a great year full of deights & surprises but the final curtain will fall at just after 7pm tomorrow night when Cllr Margaret Rolls takes over as mayor with her husband Cllr Ted Rolls as her consort. So it just remains for me to say on behalf of June & myself " Thank-you for giving us such fantastic memories & GOODBYE!!" April 25 The end is nigh....Taking advantage of the mayoress
Actually that should read, taking advantage of her being out, I'm updating.
Back on the 14th I chaired the last full council meeting of my year & a memorable one it was for several reasons. We started with the usual prayers but for the first time ever these were led by a member of the Muslim community. At the last minute Jayur Ali, you may know him from being the owner of the Taj Take-away, was unable to make it but sent his friends Gary Warner & Mohamet Ali to officiate. Following that I took the oppourtunity to present some awards on behalf of the council to members of the public. 3 people were honoured this year - Jeff Smith to acknowledge the work done by him & the committee who organise Sutton & Trusthorpe Carnival - Shelagh Price, not only for her dedication in her day job at Linkage but also for the sterling work she has done in the other community projects she has supported - Margaret Codling, for both her work for animal welfare and especially for being the driving force in acheiving the skatepark. Well done all 3!! The meeting also heard from Brenda Turnbull, Director of the Coastal Action Zone, that there are many future plans for regeneration for this & coming years. Alround a good night
Later in the week the mayoress & I attended the civic banquets of Lincolnshire County Council and ELDC. Both were excellent evenings with the chance to discuss what is going on with members of councils from many & far flung corners of Lincolnshire & even some from beyond the boundaries.
On the 19th we joined the Mayor & Mayoress of North Hykeham for a visit to the Aviation Centre at East Kirkby. It was an absolutely fascinating day. Having driven by this local attraction on many occasions promising to visit & never getting round to it, we really enjoyed looking back at history that not only effected local people but also the whole world, culminating with the taxi-ing run of "Just Jane" the Lancaster bomber. Which reminds me at this years illumination switch on we will be having fly pasts by a Dakota & Spitfire.
The whole of the last week seems to have been nothing but meeting after meeting, some the usual council meetings but also ones involving the Turism Forum & In Bloom Group and others which reminds us that the summer season is just about upon us & a lot of great events are only just around the corner.
But, for tonight, I'm taking it easy whilst the Mayoress is out on duty without me - not something that happens often & usually only if 2 events clash but tonight is different - the official engagement is a fashion show!!
Final thought, my thanks to John Gregory for the kind words. John is the guy you see at all our local events recording them for posterity either in snapshots or on video, I think he's now got more pictures of me than my mother!!! April 14 Marching into AprilEntertaining April
Well I'm starting at the end of March, when on the last Friday the learning disabilities group that meet at the Boatshed regularly hired the OAP Hall and put on their concert performance as The Boatshed Stars. What a fantastic afternoon it was with the audience carried along by their sheer enthusiadsm & enjoyment. I was privileged to be there.
The following day it was over to The Eagle Hotel to join the Sand Racing Club on their presentation night. A very busy night with a tremendous range of awards going to bikers of all ages. This marked the end of their 38th season & Mablethorpe is already looking forward to the first day of the 39th year which starts on 19 October. If you've not been down to the beach when they are competing you really are missing out.
Sunday saw us warmly welcomed to Burgh-le-Marsh for their civic service on probably the sunniest day of the year so far.
The following busy week involved the regular coastal councillors meeting at Lincolnshire County offices where sea defences were once again the main topic of conversation because we had a presentation from the Environment Agency on the subject. Other regular meetings, such as the Tourism Forum, Senior's Forum & Neighbourhood Management (how quickly this has become a regular fixture in my diary) were interspersed with "one-offs" on ELDC's landscape characteristics and the Flood Fair event. However the biggest event was not strictly a mayoral event but was, in fact, one I attended in my role as District Councillor, namely East Lindsey District's Full Council meeting. At this there was a financial report, of only small significance overall, but one small part was concerned with having to spend £71,000 on repairing the roof of The Dunes Complex. I had to call to task the original decision of the council, some years previous, made against the wishes of the community, to put the buildings out to lease; to once again question the validity of what was done because the bills for the establishment keep coming in - even though the income goes to private hands; and to question why,when the report actually admitted that the state of repair was not known at the time the lease was let, the process had still gone through - AND WITHOUT BUILDING REPAIRS BEING ONE OF THE CONDITIONS!! With my business brain in gear I say good luck to the fellow who got in before any one else had a chance to put in a bid BUT with my councillor hat on I will continue to ask ELDC why they were so determined back then to "gift away" one of the town's most prominent assets.
Back to Mayoral matters. Sutton Primary School invited myself & the mayoress to have a look around their establishment on the day they received their Healthy Schools Award. This was in recognition of several years of good work in improving the diet of their young people. It was great fun making fruit kebab's with many of youngsters & the school dinner was brill too!
On 5th the coffee morning proved a great success in bringing together a lot of local groups who often work in isolation, and it made a few bob for charity. The succesful winner of the Mayor's Brainteaser will be announced just as soon as we've got all the entries checked over. At the same time we found a few minutes to pop a few doors down the road to congratulate Furnichurch on the completion of their 3rd year of operation. It was great to hear that they are now financially established and looking to expand what they do in the years ahead.
Horncastle civic service took place on the following day & gave another chance to meet up with & swap ideas with fellow mayors in the beautiful surroundings of the parish church which hosted both the service & the reception afterwards, the whole event being rounded off by a beautiful drive back through The Wolds.
Monday night was the night of the Annual Town Meeting, I say annual, but from the start of the next civic year in May there will be at least 3 every year. Anyhow the meeting was very well attended by both councillors from the town & also members of the public. As mayor it was my duty to sum up the work of the council over the previous year & then answer questions. Although it was a very long series of questions that emerged I was very pleased that so many people chose to show an interest in what their local council is doing on their behalf and I sincerely hope that the more regular holding of such meetings will encourage even more local people to take part.
Most of the week was spent down in London but we came back to get involved in the Acre Gap open day. Best suit & wellies!! Many thanks to deputy Mayor & Consort Margaret & Ted Rolls for the warming coffee & cakes afterwards, much apreciated on a chilly day.
Sunday 13th saw it be our turn to hold a civic service & invite dignataries from all over the county to our towns as well as have all our local groups join in celebrating the work of local government in our area. I took the decision NOT to hold it in any one particular church for a variety of reasons but the main one was to enable as many of our different faith groups to participate as possible - a neutral venue, if you like. My thanks to those members of the Anglican, Methodist, Salvation Army, Catholic & Christian Fellowship communities that came along to the Community Hall on Stanley Avenue and took part. Also I must thank the schools who participated - Tennyson for their musical contribution from Gareth Kiedyk and Mablethorpe Primary for the wonderful drawings that were on show around the venue of their interpretation of "our mayor"!! A gold star to them all & 2 to the ones who are convinced that my beard is still black & not grey!! So many people put in so much work to make it a great day - THANK-YOU ALL.
Best of all was watching how many of the visiting dignataries turned towards the sea as they left after I had extolled the virtues of our wonderful beach - and I'm pleased to say it was most of them.
So just 5 more weeks to go - where has the time gone?
March 26 March roars onRunning boots and skates
Sports Relief runners in Mablethorpe are all heroes in my eyes. In some of the worst weather of the year so far, there was a massive turn out to support the good cause by young, old, able or not so, fit or challenged - even the animals. I really was impressed by the dedication shown. A word to for the Running Club members & Marathon Committee people who did a sterling job of organising, marshaling & supporting on the day when more sane people were sheltering in doors - Whoever you were, Well done you did a fantastic job in the circumstances and I hope you've thawed out by now!
The weather was at least behaving itself when the mayoress & I were invited to officialy open the Boots store that has taken over the premises of the pharmacy on High St. A lot of the same staff are still there but it's nice to see a real "high street name" on our high st.
On a busy day on 18th one of my stops was to meet up with a representative from Local Alchemy, who are part of the New Economics Foundation & who helped start the regeneration in the town. I say helped because like all interventions from outside, the whole thing was far too short term. When I challenged them over this they acknowledged that the work in Mablethorpe was only "a pilot". I had to point out that, to the people who live here, Mablethorpe is far more than a pilot, it's full-time real life!
To conclude the day I visited the Army Cadets on their annual inspection. A fine turn out by all, a fact remarked upon by the visiting inspecting officer, and it was a great privilege to be asked to present one of the annual awards that are given out on the occasion.
The Easter week-end got off to the best possible start when we went along to the seafront, on yet another blustery day, to have photo's taken to mark the opening of the skatepark. Well done to everyone who has helped bring this to reality, too numerous to mention but I would like to highlight 2 things that I believe were crucial to bringing this wonderful facility to our town. First I would like to thank the crew that brought the wooden structure from Lincoln at the drop of a hat - by doing what you did you managed to tip the balance in favour of "when it will happen" from "if it might happen". Finally I have to point out the resilience of one individual, without whose dogged determination and never say die attitude I don't think we would have got where we are - Margaret Codling, we all owe you a debt of gratitude & you are in inspiration to any of us who want to see things really happen around here. Well done Margaret.
What a week-end for weather yet again. Disappeared into church on Sunday morning picking our steps through the snow & emerged in beautiful sunshine. Went back again on Monday to view the floral decorations in the Flower Festival. This is the second such event we've attended at St Mary's & once again the organisers & arrangers had a triumph on their hands ( & the coffee's always good too!!).
Finally I must advertise the coffee morning being put on in The Boatshed on Victoria Rd on Saturday April 5th between 10 -1pm. There will be a few stalls there & a warm welcome, so if you fancy a natter with me or just want a look around the place, please drop in. March 15 Having a ballSimply having a ball
Rarely do I find myself saying how much I've enjoyed committee meetings but these last few weeks has been such a time.
The Disabled Action Group have so much passion in putting there case forward it is actually a pleasure to attend their meeting in Burgh. There was also a chance to compare Burgh's multi use centre to ours at The Boatshed, maybe I'm biased but I think the Boatshed has more atmoshere.
Another couple of enjoyable meetings centred around organising the alterations to Seaview carpark and locating the skatepark facility. I hope all the local councillors representing Mablethorpe wards enjoyed working together to the good of the town as much as I did. Saw the workmen moving onto the site just the other day so we'll soon be seeing the results.
But, of course, the real ball was had at the Mayor's Ball. First I must take my hat off to my promoter Michael Welby for sorting out some top class entertainment at a budget price and providing the link throughout the night as MC. Also due great credit were the management & staff at Golden Sands who provided the venue & laid on the fantastic buffet. An absolutely brilliant night from start to finish which brought many words of praise from the other mayors & dignataries who travelled over to Mablethorpe for the night.
Slowly we move closer to the new season & lots of great events are edging towards us so still lots to look forward to.
February 24 WHAT A PANTOMIME THAT WAS.............Amongst the many events just recently the panto at Trusthorpe Village Hall rated highly. Months of work go into this annual event (now in it's 61st year) and I'm sure all who attended during the week's run will agree with me what great fun it was. ( Warning for future Mayors - wearing the chain just makes you a better target for the comedians!!!)
During this month the Tourism Forum met to lay out trheir plans for the year - and what a year they have in store. All the events that ran last year will go ahead again in 2008 and amongst the extras will be a further 2 Wild Coast events running earlier in the season, and leading up to the main one that ties in with the annual arrival of the seals at Donna Nook. Mablethorpe is rapidly gaining a reputation with "green" tourists as a must visit location.
I had a couple of days walking around our communities with the members of the Neighbourhood Management Board and it was interesting to see the things they pointed out needed to improve the place - always good to get other peoples perspective on things.
During the walkabouts the weather was beautiful, as indeed it has been for the 2 bike weekends. The number of spectators drawn in by this very exciting event must be very welcome to the traders on the front who didn't have the best trading conditions for most of 2007. It is nigh on 40 years since this spectacle began, and here I give my wholehearted support to their hard working & dedicated organisers, I hope everyone who visits throws a pound or two into their collecting tin and helps to keep them going for many years to come. ( more details on this event at j.jmnn@btinternet.com or you can 'phone John or Marie Nicholls on 01205 722923.)
Visits away from town have taken the mayoress & I to Sleaford for a couple of concert events, one band and the other choral, and like the panto mentioned earlier both of a very high standard.
Last Thursday, however, saw the serious side of this job. There was a meeting of Common Purpose in Lincolnshire with a lot of influencial people who had come to town to see what makes it tick. I have to admit that the thought of giving an hour long talk to these people was quite daunting but once underway I think it went well. Certainly there were several interesting questions that followed and I'm now awaiting their follow up. I hope I managed to give them a balanced view of the area equally emphasising what is either good, bad or non-existant.
Finally a last call for the annual Mayor's Ball. If you are coming let me know NOW... I need to confirm numbers so that you all get fed!! February 03 JanuaryLooking back..looking forward
New years resolutions made (& broken) and, whilst there were few engagements for the mayoress and I, a chance to grab a few days holiday, were probably the highlights of a fairly drab month.
Work taking the Town Council ever closer to gaining Quality Council status has continued apace and I must express my thanks to all councillors who have given their time to the various working parties to progress this work.
I was very pleased to be at the first MASCOT conference held mid-month to hear the various presentations (Environment Agency's certainly stirred up some feeling) and get to hear from business people how they view the town & its future. The relaunch of MASCOT ( Mablethorpe and Sutton Chamber of Trade) has to be a very positive move for the town as it will be yet another body that can lobby for improvements to the area.
Talking of relaunches - the Mablethorpe Marathon Foundation are now promoting marathon day in September as Mablethorpe Marathon Festival of Running taking this wonderful event onwards into its 3rd year. With its continued expansion comes one major problem - the need for more volunteers. It relies on many people giving just an hour or two of their time to act as marshalls, operate water stations and the myriad of jobs required to make the event a success, so, if you or your friends want to be part of this magnificent international event get in touch with any Marathon Committee member or Mablethorpe Running Club member.
Tennyson High School have good reason to be proud of themselves having just received the national award from the Healthy Schools initiative. Well done to everyone there especially the pupils, with a special word of thanks to the performers at the assembly to celebrate their success, quality performances.
Arrangements are well in hand for the Mayors Ball to be held at Golden Sands on the evening of March 8th. Top class entertainment will be complimented with fine food and I look forward to meeting everyone there. If you want one of the remaining tickets contact myself on 472054, call 442457, contact the Town Clerk, visit the Tourist Information Centre on Mablethorpe High St or call in at any of the venues where you see a poster for the event. December 30 ....and so this is Christmas and what have I done....Well not enough blog entries for a start!!
Having been lucky enough to attend so many Christmas lunches & dinners over the last few days its hard to realise that when I last made an entry we were just getting into a round of harvest suppers & church festivals. Bonfire night fireworks, Remembrance Sunday solemnity, Children In Need week-end fun & frolics and Carol services are all now but memories.
The endless round of meetings at Town, District & County Council grind ever onwards but there have been some highlights. At Town Council we have seen more new faces take prayers before Council meetings with the Christian Fellowship leader Nigel Collins, Sutton Methodist Cecil Mundy and St Mary's new vicar Ali Harvey all guiding proceedings for the first time. Also the first ever meeting in Suttons Marisco Hall was held & brought me mixed feelings, sorry to see the increasing number of people from Mablethorpe who had started to attend did not make the journey to the other end of the parish but really pleased that the full "questions from the public" session was used by those that did attend to raise some very interesting subjects. The highlight at ELDC was when they responded to my pleas for transport to be laid on to the Flood Fair in Lincoln in November & I'm sure all those who went will agree that for once they got something right.
Across all councils & in many other forums, such as Rotary, I have attended many meetings & talks on the subject of sea defenses. There seems to be a growing idea that certain parts of our shoreline should not be defended so vigorously and nature be allowed to take some land back to the sea. 400 years pushing the tide back & some agencies want to scrimp on a few quid and let all that work go to waste. Don't they realise that Lincolnshire's coast is a not only a vital tourist area but also protects the nations bread-basket and also, in not many years, will be fuelling the nation as we harness off-shore power AND grow bio-fuels locally too.
Sport & art also played it's part in the mayor's life recently.Art in the form of the Beacon Art Project that took over several locations in Mablethorpe for a weekend of thought provoking events ranging from a "talent" competition to a 3-sided football match on a six-sided pitch!!, and the wondeful evening event near Christmas - the first ever Angel Fest. This I think is the start of much bigger events in years to come if the ideas coming from the Torism Forum all come to fruition.
One event that they did bring to fruition was the Wild Coast Weekend. Celebrating many of the areas natural delights and centred around the seals breeding season at Donna Nook. Many areas in town welcomed visitors at a time when the area is usually a veritable ghost town. It also meant that the mayoress & I got to the Lowen cinema for the first time in months and then repeated the visit for the premiere of the Visons 07 group film charting Mablethorpe over the years.
Certain local projects move slowly but surely on. Dave & Jan Fenton announced that after 2 very succesful events they would not be leading the Mablethorpe Marathon Foundation any longer & their departure has seen several new faces come forward to ensure that their legacy will grow in future years. Work to get the old library building back into community use is proving to be a long hard slog and even longer term is the repairs to sewers in Victoria Rd which Anglian Water Authority very quietly postponed after local businesses had braced themselves for the innevitable disruption ( Shame they couldn't have been as voiciferous as they are when a payment is a few days late!). Neighbourhood Management scheme is starting to find its legs as the various agencies along with councillors and members of the public are starting to meet after the predictable "consultation" has been done.
As if that lot isn't enough there have been such varying engagements as a visit to Fire & Rescue HQ at Lincoln, a sausage supper, a licensing hearing, chrysanthemum show, Christmas market, school presentations, drainage discussions, air cadet presentations, craft fairs, primary school X-factor and I'm sure that while I'm sitting here musing I'm also forgetting more than I'm mentioning. Which brings me nicely on to the main thing I've not so far put a word in for & that is all the people who have or are working to raise money for the Mayor's Charity - you know who you are and I think you are all absolutely wonderful, whether you've given a prize to a tombola or run a whole event you are simply THE BEST!!
However possibly the worst are the local Education Authority who after nearly 2 years of meetings, discussing the future for education in the town, under the heading of " Education Improvement Board", have singularly failed to hold onto a vision & drive it to fruition - End of term report has to read " shows little interest in the subject,MUST DO BETTER"
Sorry to end on a bum note, so to lift things let's all wish ourselves a Happy New Year for 2008 October 23 SeptemberMeetings, meetings, mee............
September was a seemingly never ending string of meetings, but the first event at St Peter's in Trusthorpe was a celebration of arts & crafts from the parish
Meetings started on the 3rd with one at Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) & another at Town Council (MSTC) in the evening, neither of which were half as interesting as the Senior's Forum open meeting on 4th which dealt with the switch over of TV from analogue to digital. Some areas of the country are changing now but around here it will be around the end of 2010 or start of 2011 BUT>>>>> the advice was to go see a specialist dealer now. Finished off the day with a Tourism Forum meeting discussing the busy month ahead.
Back to LCC on 6th for training on the Councillors Code of Conduct - heavy stuff - but important to take in so that, whilst acting as a councillor on your behalf, I do it within a balanced & legal context. On the 9th (again at LCC) it was Policy & Performance Committee, a kind of "holding to account" forum which can be controversial, but not this one. Also took a look at the Old Library building.
Planning & Regulations Committee at LCC on 10th & this time there was a controversial decision when we refused to lower the speed limit on a road just outside Lincoln to 30mph. It has open countryside on one side of it so how could we expect people to realistcally travel at that speed - but I bet local press will have something to say. Evening meeting of Finance,Policy& Development at MSTC was also interesting - we reformed the process involved in selecting mayor's for future years, set up a working party to review our grants policy, amended the rules regarding signing cheques, discussed how to get a better turn out of the public at meetings, set out the timetable for becoming a Quality Council ( an official status that means more control of town matters can be brought back under Town Council & away fro ELDC) & decided to look at the possibility of displaying the previous mayoral regalia & role of honour so that the public can view them. PHEW! No wonder we were late getting home!
The rest of the week involved meetings at ELDC, Leicester Childrens Home,Boatshed,Tourism Forum, Primary School & also the Beacon Art Group who come to town in October.
A busy week-end 15th & 16th, started early on Saturday with the art exhibition in the Community centre, off to Lincoln for an afternoon meeting before going off to The Dunes for the night to welcome all the runners to the Pasta Evening in readiness for Sundays events. Marathon Day is just that - it starts with the early morning preparations & then the team of organisers & volunteers are at it all day to make it one of the star attractions in Mablethorpe's year. There was a difficult moment when Deputy Mayor's Consort Cllr Ted Rolls had to leave the field in an ambulance, however he was released from hospital later in the day. Good performances by lots of runners in all 3 events but no major records set, mainly due to the strong wind on an otherwise glorious day.
2 meetings at Town Council building to start the week.Tuesday was one each at ELDC, Playing Fields, Primary School before more training on the code of conduct this time at Town Council. You should all be reassured nearly all councillors representing the town turned up. Wedneday it was down to Leicester Childrens Home to welcome a group of Ladies from a Leicester village whose social club had raised funds to support the home - good for them!. Ended the day with the Area Committee held in Saltfleet. Thursday involved th Neighbourhood Management meeting, Tennyson Governing Body's first meeting of the new year & also first since the new 6th form opened up but attending ELDC's planning Committee meant I had to miss the Marathon debriefing where Dave & Jan Fenton announced their departure after doing sterling work to start-up & run the first 2 events. Their hard work will be greatly missed but I wish them well & thank them for what they have achieved for the town. Friday is Full Council at Lincoln & the afternoon comes to an end with a debate on the situation in the EU that some xenophobic members of the ruling group still seem to think that we are NOT part of - I ask you!!
So - the week-end to relax in - NO WAY. The Festival of Bathing Beaties or Beach Hut Festival, whichever you prefer to call it is upon us with the European Market, parade on Saturday, competitions for the traditional huts in 3 seperate categories, fireworks and lots lots more - What a unique event - Mablethorpe featured on news bulletins the length & breadth of the land. Such a shame we couldn't attend it on the Sunday but we had to join in the pomp & ceremony of Louth Civic Service & Parade before rushing up to Gainsborough for their Civic Service & wonderful reception in the Gainsborough Old Hall. Back in Mablethorpe for the evening and a complete change as the Mayoress & I visited Haven Golden Sands site here in town to welcome the Elvis Presley Fan Club UK members to the town. Just a wonderful week-end of contrasts & although it was totally hectic it was such a release from this seemingly endless treadmill of committee meetings. October 21 August just flew byWhere did summer go?
July ended in fine style with the great spectacle that is the Sutton Carnival ( well done to all concerned!) and the illuminations switch-on. What a great day that was with the RNLI open day as the warm up event to the truely spectacular Red Arrows display around tea-time - Let's have them again next year. Although there was a shower or two early evening the crowds still turned out as Tupele ( Kelly Crabtree character on Corrie) pressed the switch. Only spoiled slightly when the extension of lights down the High St were late coming on.
A few days later at the full council I found two topics to ask questions. Firstly I wanted to know ELDC's position on the Environment Agency(EA) & several other agencies advice that there should be no more development in the town until the EA made a report on building in areas liable to flooding (due in 2009). The thought of NO development for 2 years appals me - NO new homes for young families, NO prospect any business will be able to expand, Not so much as a conservatory or a porch built? Regretably the answer was, at best, unclear or at worst, unhelpful. Somebody needs to tell these bodies we can't put the town on hold for 2 years(I'll talk to EA direct about this sometime) Secondly I wanted to know when our promised Household Recycling Centre, the full-time replacement for the Saturday collections from Trusthorpe, was going to come about. Lincolnshire County Council need to build it, East Lindsey District Council have spare land, why aren't they getting on with it? Answer - perhaps next year! Hey don't lets rush into it!!!!!!
Had a very pleasant day down at Leicester Childrens Home when all the management, civic officials of Leicester & Leicestershire & many sponsors came over for a visit, finishing with entertainment from the children themselves - one very touching moment on the tour round the building when one gentleman paused by a bedside & said "This would be where I slept over 40 years ago".
Satuday morning & the sun shone wonderfully for the dog show held down at the Ruskin Court Day Centre. The dogs certainly seemed to enjoy it. Proceeds from the stalls, mainly, was going to animal protection causes so hope they all took loads of dosh.
To round off the Sutton Carnival events they had a wonderful presentation night during which the mayoress & I gave out the various cups, shields & certificates - never realised there were so mant classes.
Middle of the month & St Peter's Trusthorpe had a beautiful evening for their fete & even came away with a box of chocs in the raffle.
What a contrast on the 19th. Flower Festival at St Mary's Church & Seasiders Junior Football at Sherwood Fields. The Flower Festival theme was dancing & that led to some quite unusual & eye catching arrangements. The football was dogged by bad weather but I don't think any of the youngsters were really that bothered.
In a hectic schedule over the holiday week-end the highlights were seeing wonderful array of talent on show at the Sutton Art Group Exhibition and cheering home the Lifeboat Pull. Great to see the many different ways there are to liven up our town
July 16 Catching UpDiary Highlights
June 20th - Spent a most enjoyable day at Theddlethorpe Junior School - just hope there aren't too many photo's of me line-dancing
June 27th - Full Council at ELDC & I have to admit this was not one of the most exciting agendas
June 28th - Special Full Council meeting at Mablethorpe & Sutton Town Council. Now this is more like it, a fantastic set of presentations by pupils from Tennyson High School. Thoughtful & thought provoking stuff - I just hope my fellow councillors will get moving on the topics brought up by the young people and support their causes. Cllr Paddy Prince, via his day job in youth work seems up for it so let's hope everyone else at the meeting does something positive & doesn't just talk about it
July 1st - Trusthorpe church was the venue for a "Songs of Praise" evening to celebrate their patronal festival. A small turn out but everyone enjoyed themselves singing some old favourites & the attendance of the Salvation Army Band gave extra sparkle to the event.
July 4th - Music again! This time in Alford Church. After a reception in the recently restored Manor House we moved down to the church for a nights entertainment by the London Mozart Players. If you enjoy classical music you must find time to see one of their concerts. We are very lucky in East Lindsey having them giving work shops & performing during their residency here. On this occasion they had with them a Native American musician from what is now known as New England by the name of Hawk Henries. It was a great pleasure to talk with him at the reception & an even greater one to hear him play. I was so impressed I bought both of his CD's that were on sale there.
July 6th - A series of meetings meant I arrived home very late & was most disappointed to miss the Tennyson High School year 11 prom. I understand I missed a great night. Although having seen the pictures I think it was probably a blessing in disguise because the pupils all looked so suave & debonair that, even when wearing the mayoral chain, I would have been well overshadowed.
July 7th - Popped up to Sutton to support the fund raising efforts of the RNLI & in the process found out some history of the lifeboat service locally that I'd previously been unaware of. Another bonus was coming across the coffee morning being held in the Methodist Church just round the corner. Scones were good & the cup of coffee much needed but the star of the whole day was the chocolate cake we picked up - YUMMY!!
July 8th - A very formal affair today. The Civic Service at Lincoln Cathedral for Lincolnshire County Council lead by it's Chairman Cllr David Dickinson. Nice talking to fellow mayors from across the county at the reception in the Castle grounds afterwards. Although the whole day was nearly a complete disaster. As we rounded the corner of the cathedral to approach the entrance a sharp breeze removed the mayoress' hat and what followed was a very unelegant gallop by yours truely over cobbles as it made a determined bid for freedom
July 9th - Meridale Hall was the venue for Sutton & Trusthorpe Carnival's choosing of their carnival princesses. Each of the entrants were given the make over treatment and all looked charming as the 4 winners were chosen by drawing lots.
Warning to all flood victims
Adding insult to injury where people are suffering from the recent floods are bogus tradesmen who are preying on peoples problems by seemingly offering to help. If you have any doubts at all about any unknown callers offering any sort of help or advice - however good a deal it may be - get them checked out. If your friends or neighbours don't know who they are then call trading standards on 08454 040506 or via www.lincolnshire.gov.uk on the Trading Standards page
Grafitti
The much talked about alteration to the Mablethorpe pull over were given a new feature recently when an irate father wrote messages to his children in big red painted letters on the new benches and also on the newly surfaced incline. Although the whole episode was caught on CCTV it was at first thought that the vandal was showing contempt for the cameras, however an arrest was made the very next day.
There is however a twist to the story - whilst not signed, there has been seen around town a letter of apology allegedly from the perpetrator claiming he is the victim of a raw deal which prevents him having access to his kids & that he fealt so frustrated that the only way left was to write messages where they would be picked up by the cameras.
Recycling
Thought I had no option but to do this article in green!!
When the Saturday waste collection ceased to be run from the LCC site in Trusthorpe there was planned to be a Household Waste Recycling Centre ( similar to those already operating in Lincoln, Skegness etc ). Although this was lost at a public inquiry there was a promise made by LCC & ELDC that they would work together to ensure that there was somewhere within our Town Council area for this type of excellent, modern facility.
As yet nothing has happened - Doesn't it make you wonder how committed these two bodies are when the public is crying out for more chances to recycle, there is supposedly money available and there is vacant council land waiting to be used!!!
What's (not) going on? June 24 Dentists - GOOD NEWSIn talks I had this week with NHS I learned that the process to provide new dentists for Mablethorpe & Sutton is now well underway.
I have to admit that when they explained the process involved it seemed to be far more complicated than was necessary but that's their problem.
For us it means that by the end of the year thing will have been resolved - AND MAY EVEN BE SORTED OUT BY THE END OF THE SUMMER!!!!! - However as I said before they do like to make it complicated so do't hold your breath.
What everyone must do is register to use this local service and that you can do by contacting the Dental Helpline on 01522 515371. You don't have to wait until the dental surgery opens - Do it now! June 20 Mayor of Mablethorpe & SuttonOne month goneIt's been a really interesting first 30 days & from day one I intended to keep this blog - just took a little while to get to grips with a new way of working. Events so far have included :_ 2 sports presentation nights, one football & one pool but both for juniors Opening Theddlethorpe Junior school fete Spending a fabulous day at the Mablethorpe Festival & seeing so many happy faces about the town And of course there have been the usual round of committee meetings at District Council, County Council & Town Council including 2 Full Council meetings which it is the mayor's duty to chair. Other meetings have included the Mablethorpe Area Committee, governors meetings at both of the town's schools, Mablethorpe Marathon monthly meeting ( looking good for a record number of entries ), Tourism Forum, Boatshed agm and the various groups involved in the Coastal Strip Children & Young Peoples Partnership. ( And I'm sure I've missed some as well) Most interestingly the Town Council have been going through the interviewing of candidates for the position of Town Clerk to replace Tony Cumberworth when he leaves at the end of June. Again, as mayor, it fell to me to head the appointment panel on the day of the interviews. With 3 ex-mayors & my deputy also on the panel this proved to be one of the easier tasks, although a good field of applicants made it a challenging one. From July we will have Alan Tasker taking on the role & he brings a vast wealth of experience with him from his previous roles working in local government. As well as a board of governors Tennyson School also has an Improvement Board which is working on some imaginative & possibly innovative ideas to take education standards in the area to a much higher level. For instance there will shortly be a 6th Form in place for the first time ever. I'm hoping there will be a lot more to come from this forum in the near future - after all these pupils are our future. It was also fantastic to be (a small) part of the winning bid team that secured a fantastic skate/BMX/Inline facility for the town & I'm full of admiration for what the other members of that team achieved. To locate the park "furniture", write & deliver a bid, organise a working party, provide vehicles & other equipment complete with qualified operators & drivers, collect everything & relocate it locally in secure storage - AND ALL INSIDE 10 DAYS!!! I think you all deserve a medal - it was one of the greatest shows of community spirit and pulling together as a team that I have ever witnessed. All(?) that remains is to site it & rebuild it - and of course see it fully used. During this first month it has also been a pleasure to entertain some of our far flung friends. Thanks Dee for coming down from the very North of Scotland to share that "significant" birthday with us & thanks also to Jimmy & Mary Ng from KK in Malaysia for dropping by whilst visiting their family in the UK and renewing our friendship. Today has seen some really interesting discussions taking place in the town with a view to widening the range of supermarkets that trade in the area. There is still a long way to go in any negotiations but it is very interesting to see that nationally known & even internationally known traders are interested in our town. However it has not been all good news. Nature had it's moment of madness with us in the form of some pretty heavy downpours. Having spoken with some of you who suffered, I want to express my sincere sympathy to all of you who had difficulties. I really do know how you feel, having had problems myself on previous occasions. For all of our sakes I just wish that the Water Authority would think more about the concerns of its paying customers than it does about pay-outs to shareholders. Isn't it ironic that they bleat about wanting money from government because they can't afford to mend leeks in the supply of water, loosing great amounts of it before it even gets to us & yet can't get rid of it fast enough when we want them to when it rains!! Sorry to ramble on - perhaps now I've got the hang of it I'll do it more regularly in smaller doses.
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