Officers on Patrol

Last week I had the opportunity of going on patrol one evening with two Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) around Haslingden and Helmshore.

As a big fan of the Police Academy Films, I was all ready to step into the shoes of Officer Mahony and take to the streets fighting crime. Although my antics were not up to Mahoney’s standard, I found the whole evening fascinating. I had not fully appreciated the role that the PCSO’s are undertaking in society. As well as being a permanent visible police presence on the streets, they also fulfil a vital community role. In Haslingden and Helmshore the local police have been working with Haslingden High School to improve the area. This has included, working with the school to improve the local environment. I was shown an area where, by cutting back bushes, elderly residents have been made to feel safer when using local shops in the evening. A small project you may think but one which has seen big results.

Back to Officer Mahony (Berry), I did not solve any crimes, however, I did get an insight into the challenges facing our community and ideas on how politicians can help to meet these challenges.

Grow Your Own Darwen Premier

I had the honour of being asked to introduce the Darwen Premier of Grow Your Own in Darwen’s Library Theatre.

The films stars local budding actress Sophie Lee. The film was fascinating and dealt with acceptance of immigrants into a community. As well as the premier we had a demonstration by Darwen Kung Fu School and a Lion Dance.

The event was a brilliant success raising over £450.00 for Derian House a Children Hospice based in Chorley. The evening was organised by Angela Lee (Sophie’s Mum). Sophie is a star of the future and a fantastic ambassador for Darwen.

Annabels Restaurant

I was delighted with the attendance at another of our Supper Clubs. We all met in Annabels Restaurant in Whitworth. The food was fantastic, as was the atmosphere. The restaurant has been recently refurbished and I would recommend a visit. A big thank you Cllr. Lynda Barnes who helped organise what was a fantastic evening.

21,790 families in Rossendale and Darwen may be at risk

A massive 21,790 families in Rossendale and Darwen including 8,850 families in Rossendale are affected by the latest data protection blunder at HM Revenue & Customs (formerly the Inland Revenue). The figures, I obtained, follow the disclosure that the name and personal details of every child in the country have been ‘lost in the post’.

Families across Rossendale and Darwen are rightly concerned about their personal security; not least their bank details potentially getting into the hands of criminals and fraudsters. I have been contacted, this weekend, by two worried families who fear that their identity may have been stolen. I would advise all potential victims of this scandal to monitor their bank accounts closely and to immediately alert their bank to any unexpected transactions.

This latest fiasco proves, yet again, that the Government has no ability to run their proposed national ID card database.

Remembrance Sunday

Sorry to my avid readers, I have been a little late with my blogs lately.

Last weekend I had the honour of being invited to the Edenfield, Helmshore and Bacup Remembrance Ceremonies. Remembrance Sunday is something I feel very strongly about. My Grandfather fought in Germany and always told me how he had seen many of his friends die in battle. His war time experience was something that day to day he wished to forget, but he always marked both the Armistice and Remembrance Sunday. Additionally when was younger I was in the RN Cadet Force and was always involved in the Remembrance Parade in Liverpool.

On Saturday morning I attended Edenfield where there was a good crowd of people in the Memorial Gardens including the deputy mayor of Rossendale.

On Sunday morning I attended the Helmshore Parade led by Sir David Trippier. My parents then came and met me for lunch at the Shoulder of Mutton Pub which was fantastic. Later that afternoon I attended Bacup Remembrance which like Edenfield and Helmshore was again very well attended. I also had the honour of laying a wreath in Bacup at the memorial. Later that evening I attended the Festival of Remembrance in Bacup Leisure Hall which had some fantastic music performed by the Haslingden and Helmshore Band.

It was an honour to attend these events and I hope that I will be lucky enough to be invited again next year.

Today has been Cancelled