It’s been quite a winter here in Todmorden but, as always, we’ve pulled together and supported each other through the floods, road closures and many other challenges. What a community.
My first engagement since the last newsletter was attending the launch of our annual Book Festival at the Hippodrome in which I interviewed writer and politician Alan Johnson about his latest book, a biography of Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. A warm and fascinating man.
Over Christmas I had plenty of opportunities to practice my Carol singing, whether it be the Choral Society’s service, a Dementia Friendly bash with local primary schools, me switching on the lights, and the Town Council’s Christmas Eve concert jointly hosted with Reverend Catherine Shelley at St Mary’s. Thank you to everyone who helped organise all of these events and just as many thanks to everyone who turned up and sung their heart out.
On the theme of music, the annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah was performed with the usual panache by The Todmorden Orchestra and Tod Choral Society. At the other end of the spectrum a solo Michael Gill entertained everyone at Age Concern’s Christmas Coffee Morning.
As always, The Learning Centre’s diverse range of activities offered me the opportunity to visit often and learn much. The Retrofit Courses enabled me to present the participants with certificates celebrating their achievement and separately, it was a pleasure and an honour to say thank you to Mary, Estelle, Fred & Judy for their many years of service to Incredible Edible. These two environmentally concerned initiatives are rightly recognised internationally as showing the way forward.
A quick shout out to my Mayoral charities; Music for the Many staged a concert with the Orchestra in the Town Hall. How wonderful to see primary ages students holding their own in a repertoire as varied and sophisticated as this. And the Hippodrome took over Todmorden Cricket Club for a presentation of the play “The Last Quiz Night on Earth” before going off on tour to different venues. Brilliant cast and production as always.
On the subject of quizzes, last week the Town Council Office Staff and myself ventured into Mytholmroyd to pit ourselves against Hebden’s best in a quiz night raising funds for Hebden Bridge Saints. Needless to say, us good citizens of Todmorden were triumphant. Also last week, I was at Todmorden High School for their Year 11 Leavers prize giving ceremony. Congratulations to everyone there and best wishes for your future.
Finally – although it happened back in November, I just wanted to thank all those who participated in the Remembrance Service in the park. Most of what I do as Mayor is special to me because of it’s celebration of localism – what is unique about out town. However, in this moment, the town comes together, along with people across the globe, to remember those who lost their lives in the wars. The likes of which we hope to never see again.