WED. 14 MAY 09.30 NORTH WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION GROUP, HALL PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE.
All about crime and community safety discussions among various agencies in a meeting chaired by the Police. Working out priorities and initiatives and then seeking funding from the several sources available for such work. Two hours.
14.00 CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL 2008 LAUNCH PHOTOCALL, WINTER GARDEN.
Deja vu all over again. Did this a year ago.
18.30 CIVIC RECEPTION FOR DELEGATES TO ACADEMY OF URBANISM'S FOUNDER CONGRESS, TOWN HALL. Effectively this was a conference about urban design and to recognise the massive renaissance in Sheffield which has caused us to win a national award. Some of the delegates had not been back to Sheffield since the mid 70's at university and they were astounded at the transformation. Mingled, munched, and chatted with our visitors.
THU. 15 MAY 10.45 AGM SOLDIERS, SAILORS, ARMIES, AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION, ENDCLIFFE HALL.
SSAFA does wonderful work enabling ex service personnel to obtain help from various other agencies with the remit and funds essential. An extensive range of home visits make contacts an important part of the re-engagement many ex personnel find so fundamentally important.
14.00 RECEIVE MR AND MRS DAVID PEPPER, TOWN HALL.
These are old friends from Grenoside who volunteer their services gratis both there and more widely in the north of our city and who asked for the chance to visit and see the Parlour. My pleasure. Then off to......
15.30 MR AND MRS GORDON McLEAN'S DIAMOND WEDDING, DOE ROYD CRESCENT.
Gordon and Joyce, both turned 80 are backbone of Sheffield folk who have served their city and country well and are now retired and enjoying a bit of leisure time. Like most of us golden oldies they have their share of health problems but stick at it and do their best. Both used to be top quality ballroom dancers and I tried to tempt Joyce the reluctant one of the two to try out a Saga holiday where Gordon could gently try get her once more on to the dance floor. Good luck.
FRI. 16 MAY 14.00 RECEIVE MAYOR OF NEWRY AND MOURNE COUNCIL, NORTHERN IRELAND.
Great chat about politics here and in Northern Ireland particularly following the changes there. As one often finds in life one has more in common than apart with folk from other cultures and traditions. Though met my first teatotal Irishman and I had in addition alongside tea and coffee some Bushmills and Guinness in the fridge.
19.00 DINNER FOR STAFF OF LORD MAYOR'S OFFICE, TOWN HALL.
This a chance to say farewell and thanks to Office staff who have served so well yet another Lord Mayor with their individual foibles and particularities.
SAT. 17 MAY 10.00 ASSEMBLY FOR 11.00 MAYOR OF ROTHERHAM'S CIVIC SERVICE, ROTHERHAM MINSTER.
Last year it was the Hull hike, this year the Rotherham ramble partly in the rain. Some familiar civic faces but quite a few new ones too starting out on their year of office. Good luck as mine's been massively enjoyable but very exhausting.
19.00 SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY SINGERS' SOCIETY 10TH ANNIVERARY CONCERT, ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, RANMOOR. Yet another Ranmoor concert. Should have got a season ticket. Only more engagements in Ponds Forge and the Town Hall. That said, a very entertaining and thought provoking evening. First half of the Concert was an African Sanctus, second half Carmina Burana. Then again, the first half had two themes, one recordings of African and Arabic chants and prayers as well as the other theme, more familiar High Church Latin and Low German vocal arrangements. Challengingly both at the same time! Harmonious or cacophonous? Jury's still out.
SUN. 18 MAY.
Another chilling out session but this time no real sun to mention.
MON. 19 MAY 10.30 RECEIVE VISITORS FROM CHENGDU, CHINA, TOWN HALL.
Though against a very sad background of tragedy in Sichuan and Chengdu for which we stood for a brief moment in silent sympathy and reflection I enjoyed the visit. More of a sales and marketing session on behalf of Creative Sheffield directed at our visitors from Chengdu who are interested in potential investment here to learn of our success with the Creative Industries Quarter and its part in the regeneration of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Hope we impressed them as they seem genuine people with whom we could do good business, to coin a phrase. Only time will tell.
12.30 VALEDICTORY LUNCHEON GIVEN FOR LORD MAYOR AND LADY MAYORESS BY MASTER AND MISTRESS CUTLER, CUTLERS' HALL.
The one time in the year when folk can be guaranteed to say something nice about one. Otherwise it's not a valedictory occasion. So I enjoyed it while it lasted! Thanks for the thanks and a couple of prezzies.
20.15 SHEFFIELD AND DISTRICT JUNIOR SUNDAY LEAGUE PRESENTATION NIGHT, METRODOME, BARNSLEY.
Business as usual in the evening presenting 226 trophies to winning teams from the largest Junior Football League in Europe giving over 10,000 boys and girls the opportunity to play football and demonstrate Fair Play. Their region covers a radius of 20 miles from the steps of Sheffield Cathedral. What a fantastic group of volunteers and what a brilliant achievement in just 40 years.
TUE. MAY 20 09.30 RECEIVE DELEGATES FROM DENMARK RE THE EUROPEAN MASTER GAMES 2011.
My job to meet and greet Danish visitors examining Sheffield as a possible Games venue in 2011. My chance to show them a typically Sheffield warm welcome. Clearly already impressed with our renaisscent city.
14.00 BRITISH CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY, TOWN HALL. The briefest of affairs and ceremonies as only two people were receiving citizenship status, a father and son from Zimbabwe of all places. Heart went out to all those still there yearning for peace and the freedom we all take too often for granted.
WED. MAY 21 11.30 ANNUAL LORD MAYOR MAKING COUNCIL, TOWN HALL.
Last stretch of the last lap which starts as Lord Mayor and ends as an ex and a backbencher with Cllr Jane Bird as the new Lord Mayor. Shall not be sad however as a great honour and very enjoyable but immensely tiring with around 1,000 engagements over the year. Time for a holiday and dolce far niente in Italy. That said the occasion passed in great dignity, with some solemnity but also being Sheffield with good humour and a dose of iconoclasm. I could write pages more but this blog is already large enough so TTFN and thanks for the memories and the chance to serve my home town and thank it in turn for bearing me, educating me, and giving me the opportunity to travel the world.
WED. MAY 7.
Quite a few emails but managed chill out in the sun if that's not an oxymoron. THU. MAY 8. 14.45 LAUNCH OF BIG DRESS FESTIVAL, ENDCLIFFE PARK.
Big tent in the park, and a big occasion organised by the Sheffield University Speak Society which is faith based and aims to work for Fair Trade and other initiatives which help others in other lands who are deprived and disadvantaged. Gave a short speech, visited the various exhibits, chatted, mingled, and gave recorded interviews. In helping others the students will help themselves along the path of enlightenment which is the journey of life hopefully.
18.30 CUTLERS' FEAST, CUTLERS' HALL.
The 372nd of these was a ritzy, glitzy, swanky affair with ladies dressed in evening attire as normal but the fellows were clad in black evening long tails, white tie and shirt with waistcoat, all very splendiferous and traditional. Guest speaker William Hague enchanted but so too did Rev. Trevor Page who combines presently the roles of Chaplain for the Master Cutler and Lord Mayor. Ate and drank so tomorrow will have to be abstemious to try balance the books caloriewise.
FRI. MAY 9. 12.40 CELEBRATION LAUNCH OF STERLING WORKS, FREEMAN COLLEGE.
Another magnificent refurbishment and restoration job adjacent to the Butcher Works which I helped open a few months ago. Asked for a tour of the building so could see upgraded the ramshackle building I had visited as a Planning Councillor before giving permission for the changes. Sheffield owes Freeman College massively both for the refurb and bringing apprentice type work and skills to some folk needing a little help getting their lives back in gear. The new/old bakery is a great asset.
14.30 LAUNCH EVENT OF STEPOMETER LOAN SCHEME BY ACTIVITY SHEFFIELD AND SHEFFIELD LIBRARIES, STANNINGTON LIBRARY.
Did much the same as in Walkley Library nigh 8 months and 650 engagements ago. Plus a speech lauding walking in which I believe firmly myself, leafletting as I do Liberty Hill regularly. Mingled, grazed, walked up by the Bowling Green in the Park near where folk are discussing with Action For Stannington a possible Skate Board venue.
19.00 PUBLIC DISCUSSION ORGANISED BY SHEFFIELD CIVIC TRUST ON ARTWORK TO REPLACE COOLING TOWERS, TOWN HALL.
Chaired by Rony Robinson this public meeting gave folk the chance to question and explore whether or not to replace the cooling towers which are to be demolished by a piece of public art possibly in situ or elsewhere, and if so what sort of piece should be commissioned, a large steel football structure as envisaged by Richard Caborn MP or something more modernistic and less traditional as advocated by some local artists and architects. Also, whether a public competition would be an appropriate means of progressing and deciding. Presentations and a lively debate ensued but no clear meeting conclusion and recommendation was reached. So the jury is still out.
SAT. MAY 10. 11.00 MUSICAL BUSKING EVENT TO LAUNCH CHRISTIAN AID WEEK, FARGATE.
Asked possibly to join in by playing a musical instrument I took a comb and tissue paper which clearly was inappropriate when I saw a wind quintet more likely in Ranmoor Church than under a tent in Fargate. The music though was divine as also the charitable inspiration for the week's endeavours. Spoke briefly to wish them well.
12.00 GRAND OPENING CELEBRATIONS, MOSBOROUGH HALL.
Mosborough Hall, now fully owned by ex BBC boss Greg Dyke has been restored, refurbished at a cost of £4 million, been allowed controversial new build bedrooms adjacent to the listed building and a glass and metal bar facility built in front of the listed building itself. I have been on the Planning Board that has refused permission for some applications yet given permission for others following Planning visits. The controversial aspects have been allowing new build and car parking which arguably might impact adversely upon the listed building and the amenities of neighbouring homes close by. These seem to have worked well thanks to the diligence of Greg Dyke and his staff. Toured the place, all of it, chatted long with Ian Torpey the GM and with Greg Dyke himself who was charming and straight talking just the sort of immigrant to Sheffield we like. So live long and prosper Greg, keep the locals happy re potential noise breakout and disturbance, try help out the Abbeydale Picture House Restoration folk ( given your top level involvement with the UK film industry ) that I've given your name to, and bring more of your business ventures to Sheffield.
19.15 ATTEND 'MISCELLANY AT THE ABBEYDALE' CONCERT, ABBEYDALE PICTURE HOUSE.
What a fantastic night this turned out to be. 60's songs and variety acts from some very talented people with the not just opportunity but expectation that the audience would join in the popular songs which are now part of our folk music heritage. Great costumery too and some plunging necklines to get an old man's heart beat racing. Yet all this amid a spectacular building desperately needing restoration funds to help save it. Much like the state of the Lyceum before the Aesthetes won out against the Philistines who wanted to turn it into a car park and very nearly won. So the Council has to give more help and if folk like Greg Dyke can be persuaded to help promotionally maybe we're on our way to seeing once more the magnificent building that I visited several times in the 1950's.
SUN. MAY 11. SPEEDO SWIMMING CUP FINAL, PONDS FORGE ISC.
Teams from all over the UK except ironically NE England. Competing not just in races b