What a superb week the Mayoress and I have had in our lovely Great Aycliffe. Beginning with our fantastic Civic Dinner on Friday at Redworth Hall where we were able to promote Great Aycliffe to Civic Dignitaries across the region.
On Saturday we were pleased to be attending the Rotary Club Model Railway exhibition at the Youth and Community Centre as guests of Rotary President David Hogg where we were given the arduous task of presenting prizes, our congratulations go to those who were selected as winners.
On Monday I hooked up with my colleague Eddy Adam and representatives of livin to look at providing extra parking at Beechfield, as we all know there is a great problem with parking in all areas of our town. Where possible your councillors are seeking to provide adequate solutions to these issues.
Wednesday saw us at Aycliffe Village Primary School at the request of Headmistress Mrs Adamson, and the nursery children, to celebrate the planting of a beautiful Maple tree in the school grounds as a celebration of the new nursery Maple class. The Mayoress and I had a really great time talking to staff and pupils. It was so lovely to meet and talk to the children. One of the many enjoyable perks of the job.
Wednesday evening also saw the Mayoress, and I visit the Steam Machine Public House and Brewery who were planning a fundraiser for the people of Turkey and Syria who were disastrously affected by a nightmare earthquake last month. We are lucky in this country that we don’t get affected by such things. Anyway, as we were not able to attend, we very much wanted to donate to this worthy cause. It was nice to meet up with Nik for a chat and who could resist a sample half of his tasty beer. Good luck with your business and your fundraiser.
Thursday saw us visiting Sugar Hill Primary School as a result of receiving heart-warming handwritten letters from children inviting us along to their new Kindness Café. This is a brilliant venture whereby parents and grandparents can drop into the school for a cuppa instead of chatting at the school gate in all weathers. It occurs to me that parents of small children may be lonely after dropping off kids, particularly if their husbands or partners are at work all day. We had a wonderful morning, so I have to say a big thank you to Leo Leonard of class 6, Jose Perez of class 5, Paige also of class 5 and, not least, Emahi of class 6, for inviting us. Not only were they great letters but lovingly decorated too. What a pleasure to be welcomed by Mrs O’Rourke and Mrs McCormack who introduced us to everyone.
Friday was a dull, pretty miserable day, but we had to commemorate the planting of a tree on Aycliffe Village Green. The tree along with it’s plague are dedicated to the memorial of our dear late Queen Elizabeth ll as part of her Platinum Jubilee Canopy of trees.
Friday also seems to be the evening for Civic Dinners and this one was no exception. We were invited to Durham City Civic dinner at the Town Hall in Durham Marketplace, what a wonderful building and quite a surprise to meet the City Mayor’s bodyguards who provided interesting tours and information about the building. Entertainment was provided by Deputy Mayor of Great Aycliffe Neville Jones and his lovely daughter, performing as DV8. A good dinner, a great night supporting some good causes. I do believe over £800 was raised in support of the Sarmatians charity.
Saturday saw the Mayoress and me at Barnard Castle as guests of Mayor Rima Chatterjee to attend her Small World Festival where shops were decorated with flags etc, denoting many of the nations of the world. Entertainment was provided by local Morris Dancers in the Marketplace, a choir singing in the Witham Building and a charming Ukrainian resident singing traditional Ukrainian folk songs. As Rima and her husband Roy have become great friends over our term of office we were invited to their pub The Old Well Inn to partake in lunch which turned out to be a delightful fusion of Asian food, of Chinese and Indian flavours, well worth a visit if you happen to be in Barny.
All for now, best regards,
Mayor Ken and Mayoress Elaine.