Mayoral Viewpoint: Councillor Josh Allen
The weather might have taken a turn, but the Mayoress and I have certainly had another month full of exciting events, community pride, and the kind of spirit that makes Hyndburn such a special place to call home.
Part of being the Mayor is promoting our Borough both locally and around Lancashire, so the Mayor’s committee thought what better way to do that than a Mayor’s History Bus Tour. This was a fantastic day if I do say so myself, celebrating what makes Hyndburn a wonderful place to live. From supporting small local businesses to visiting assets like Accrington Stanley and Haworth Art Gallery to hearing the wonderful Rawden Kerr cry us in in his position as Great Harwood’s Town Crier to many other key spots, it was a busy but rewarding day full of the area’s vast and vibrant history.
I must extend a massive thank you to the Mayoral Committee for organising our tour and doing all the research, as well as a massive thank you to all who attended. All funds raised on the day goes towards the Mayor’s chosen charities, which are all local groups and organisations.
Another real personal highlight this month was joining the Accrington Road Runners for their 40th Anniversary celebration. As a collective, the group and ourselves ran 40 miles around the borough, ending with a 1 mile run where new and old members joined in (though I did have the Mayor’s car following me just in case!). It was great to see so many people, from seasoned runners to newcomers, coming together. If you’re looking to get into running, I highly recommend you reach out to them.
I also joined the 1st Oswaldtwistle Scout Group for their Family Fun Day at Oswaldtwistle Mills. This was a brilliant day supporting local charities and a few small businesses but also giving us the opportunity to judge the Amazing Accrington XMAS FACTOR competition. We had the opportunity to listen to some truly talented singers and bands, and I can safely say that having to judge these fantastic acts has been the hardest day being the Mayor.
I had the pleasure of attending Burnley College’s Graduation Ceremony. It’s always inspiring to see the next generation celebrating their hard work and dedication. Congratulations to all the graduates – I’m sure they’re all going to make a huge difference in our world.
I also had the pleasure of attending the Baxenden Allotments Annual Show, the Great Harwood Civic Society Annual Show, the Great Harwood Transport Weekend and the recent Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club Health and Happiness Event at Hyndburn Leisure Centre. It’s always a joy to celebrate the creativity, talent, and community spirit that make these events so special.
Finally, I am ending this viewpoint by stepping into the past for Heritage Open Day at Accrington Town Hall. It’s always fascinating to learn about the history of our buildings, and the Town Hall, originally known as the Peel Institute, has such an interesting story. It was built to honour Sir Robert Peel, the first Prime Minister from an industrial background. Leading two tours of this impressive building really gave me a new appreciation for what we have right on our doorstep, and it was brilliant to share this with residents.
A big thank you to everyone who invited the Mayoress and I along this month. Your warmth and hospitality never fail to make these events so memorable. Here’s to many more wonderful celebrations in the months ahead!