Mayoral Viewpoint: Councillor Noordad Aziz September 2026
It is with great sadness that I begin this month’s viewpoint by remembering my fellow councillor and friend, Councillor Dave Parkins, whose funeral took place this week. Dave was a gentleman and an inspiration to me. If you want to see how to serve your residents, be like Dave. His dedication to Hyndburn, and particularly Huncoat, was unmatched. He was a big character, a strong voice for his community and, above all, someone always willing to help others. I will miss him, and my thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who knew and worked alongside him.
There have also been many happier occasions to celebrate this month though. During Heritage Open Day, I was pleased to host two tours of Accrington Town Hall and the Ballroom, sharing the history of these wonderful buildings and answering questions from visitors. I also attended the “Welcome to Hollins Hill House event” at the wonderful Haworth Art Gallery. This event gave a fantastic look into the history of this building. I would encourage all residents to visit Haworth Art Gallery which is free to enter and has so much to see, including the world’s largest collection of Tiffany Glass outside of North America and so much more.
I was also delighted to attend the service marking the institution of Reverend Jordan Bentliff as Vicar of Baxenden St John’s and Accrington St Paul’s. It was a warm and welcoming occasion, and I wish Jordan every success as he begins his ministry. I look forward to working with him and supporting the important role our places of worship play in our communities.
Outside of my mayoral duties, one of my personal highlights was attending a brilliant night of comedy at Mercer Hall in Great Harwood, with more than 150 people enjoying an evening of laughter. All three acts were superb, and it was fantastic to be joined by locals, colleagues and those from further afield alike. I look forward to seeing more brilliant community events at Mercer Hall. The restoration of this fantastic building has really given it a new lease of life and I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.
I have also had the pleasure of taking part in the Junior Parkrun at The Woodlands in Clayton-le-Moors, alongside my daughters. Having had the privilege of opening the first run in my mayoral capacity, it is lovely to now attend in a personal capacity and see so many young runners smiling, enjoying themselves and getting active, supported by a fantastic team of volunteers who turn up week in week out.
This month has given me opportunities to represent Hyndburn at events hosted by fellow civic dignitaries, including the Mayor of South Ribble’s Curry Night. These occasions provide a valuable opportunity to build relationships with neighbouring areas and celebrate the work taking place across our communities.
Education and achievement were also celebrated at the Burnley College University Centre graduation ceremony. Graduation is a special moment, celebrating years of hard work, dedication and determination. It was wonderful to see so many students, many of whom are Hyndburn residents, achieve their goals and take the next step in their journey. To all the graduates, congratulations on your achievements and I wish you every success for the future.
I also thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Transport Festival at Great Harwood Showground, organised by the Town & District Transport Trust. There were many beautiful buses and vehicles on display, but the real highlight for me was meeting the passionate people who dedicate their time to preserving this incredible part of our heritage. A huge thank you to all the organisers, volunteers, owners and enthusiasts who make events like these possible.
There have been many other engagements this month that I cannot mention individually, but I remain extremely grateful for every invitation. One of the most rewarding parts of being Mayor is getting out into our communities, meeting people and hearing about the things that matter to them. It is a privilege I never take for granted, and I look forward to continuing to meet as many of you as possible over the coming month.