Mayoral Viewpoint: Cllr Mike Booth May 2025
Mayoral Viewpoint: Cllr Mike Booth May 2025
As I begin to write my last Mayoral viewpoint and contemplate all that the year has entailed the honour and privilege of being chosen as the first citizen of the Borough of Hyndburn in its fiftieth year stands uppermost in my mind. The historical significance of wearing the original Mayor’s chain donated by the first Mayor of Accrington John Lightfoot in 1878 with the Hyndburn emblem created fifty years ago was a weight of responsibility I recognised from the very beginning. With such the Mayoress and I have endeavoured to convey our deep respect for the role and set about engaging enthusiastically in recognising all the amazing and wonderful activities that take place in Hyndburn. It has been a very full and enjoyable year. We are both proud, grateful and deeply privileged to have served the community as the fiftieth Mayor and Mayoress.
Mayoress Christine and I have had the honour of attending hundreds of events across the borough, from attending a 100 year birthday celebration of a D-Day veteran, judging competitions, attending degree award ceremonies and numerous invitations to charity organisations, school functions and fundraising concerts.
Our theme for the year has been young people and we have been incredibly fortunate to be invited to observe the work of the King’s Trust run by the Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service, the community work of youth organisations such as the Scouts, Police Cadets and Sea Cadets. We have also been welcomed with open arms by organisations such as Red Rose Recovery, the Rotarians and East Lancashire Hospice. Truly a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable year.
Hyndburn thrives on volunteers and community activities and we have seen how strong our community really is. Many of our community leaders have become well known to us and we have endeavoured to highlight their achievements.
Our efforts to raise funds for our chosen charities have been well supported throughout the year and are still ongoing with the Mayor’s School Challenge.
Before chosen as Mayor I knew that Christine was a brilliant organiser and fundraiser and whilst sporting their red outfits at the Mayor’s Red Charity ball along with her sister Maureen I knew we were in for a great night from our ex-Paddock House Convent School girl. You can take the girl out of Oswaldtwistle but you can’t take Oswaldtwistle out of the girl. Christine is certainly a lady of fun, energy and style and the success of the Mayoral year owes much to her warmth and friendly engagement amongst so many.
So it has been a very enjoyable and successful year with lots of wonderful memories. The role of Mayor and Mayoress is an important one. Seen in the eyes of the general public as requiring warmth, dignity in civic duties and in the community an appreciation of all that we are proud to be a part of in our borough.
When handing over to my successor Cllr. Josh Allen and his wife Robyn I hope that the office of the Mayoralty has been strengthened by our year and they enjoy their time in office as much as Christine and I.
Our final fundraiser of the year will take place this Friday weekend, with an evening of music and entertainment from the Houghton Weavers at the Poplar Social Club in Accrington. All proceeds raised will go to support a charity close to my heart, the East Lancs Hospice. We are proud that the Mayoral year has enabled us to support this and several other worthy causes.
Finally, today (8th May) marks a significant day in our history, the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with the people, families and communities of our great nation coming together to unite and celebrate 80 years since the end of Word War II in Europe that so many millions paid the ultimate sacrifice to achieve. Alongside the Royal British Legion and several uniformed organisations, I’m honoured to commemorate this occasion at Accrington Pals Memorial Garden this morning.