Mayor’s Viewpoint: Cllr Noordad Aziz August 2026
Mayor’s Viewpoint: Cllr Noordad Aziz August 2026
Looking back over the past month, I have once again been reminded of just how much happens across Hyndburn and how many people give their time to make things happen. From long-standing traditions and community events to supporting local families, celebrating our culture and helping to plan future fundraising, it has been a busy and varied few weeks.
This month has highlighted the pride people have in where they live. In Great Harwood, I had the real privilege of taking part in the annual Crying of the Fair on Towngate, one of the town’s oldest traditions, dating back to 1338. With Town Crier Rawden Kerr making the proclamation, it was a special occasion to celebrate our heritage and the traditions that connect generations. I was also delighted to open the Great Harwood Civic Society Charity Fair, another fantastic volunteer-led event that brought people together. These occasions are a wonderful reminder of the community spirit that exists across our town.
I was equally pleased to visit Our Food Pantry at Trinity Church and see the valuable support being provided to local families. The extension of opening times to include Saturdays is particularly welcome, and I would like to thank all the volunteers who give their time to make this service available to those who need it.
Young people and families have also featured strongly this month. It was a pleasure to join Early Birds Children Nursery for its first Community Picnic. Seeing families enjoying time together outdoors was a lovely reminder of the importance of creating positive experiences and a sense of belonging from an early age. We are fortunate to have 11 Green Flag parks across Hyndburn, and I hope more families will continue to take the opportunity to enjoy these wonderful spaces.
Culture and creativity have also been celebrated. I was honoured to officially open Canon, an immersive new installation by artist Penelope Payne at the Haworth Art Gallery as part of the National Festival of Making. The exhibition explored the history of the gallery and the people connected to it, while reminding us how art can help us look at familiar places and stories in new ways. The Haworth Art Gallery, including its remarkable Tiffany glass collection, is something Hyndburn can rightly be proud of.
I have also enjoyed spending time at Accrington Cricket Club, discussing plans for fundraising activities supporting my Mayoral Charities over the coming year. Grassroots clubs such as this play such an important role in bringing people together and creating opportunities for people of all ages.
There have been many other engagements over the past month, and unfortunately, I cannot mention them all here. I am, however, extremely grateful for every invitation and for the warm welcome I receive wherever I visit. I never take those invitations for granted, and it is a privilege to hear directly from residents, volunteers and community groups about the work they are doing and the issues that matter to them. Those conversations are an important part of my role and help me to better understand the people and places I am fortunate enough to represent.
Finally, I am looking forward to the return of the ever-popular Soapbox Challenge in Accrington Town Square this Bank Holiday weekend. I hope to see many of you there supporting the teams and enjoying what promises to be another fantastic community event.
It remains a real honour to serve as your Mayor, and I look forward to continuing to meet residents and celebrate everything that makes Hyndburn such a special place to live.