Horwich Advertiser Issue 621

Page 20 April 2025 AD SALES 01204 478812 MARCH 7: WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE CELEBRATES COOK ISLANDS CULTURE I HAD the privilege of attend- ing the 2025 World Day of Prayer service at Horwich Evangelical Church alongside my wife Janet, the mayoress. The service this year was thoughtfully prepared by Christian women from the Cook Islands, representing a global wave of prayer span- ning the world. The service began with the warm greeting ‘Kia Orana’ which means "may you live long" or "may you have a fulfill- ing life" in Cook IslandsMaori. This traditional greeting appeared throughout the pro- ceedings. It was particularly meaningful to learn that the Cook Islands have celebrated 200 years of Christianity across their 15 islands, which span nearly 800,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. MARCH 7: WESTHOUGHTON TOWN COUNCIL CIVIC AWARDS MY wife and I attended West- houghton Town Council's 2025 Civic Awards Ceremony at The Den, home of the West- houghton Lions. The event was a great opportunity to meet with other mayors and their partners from Bolton and Blackrod. The evening started with a buffet and some enjoyable entertainment by Nick Ber- tram Powell. It was nice to catch up with everyone while enjoying the food and music. The awards were a highlight of the evening. David Kaye received the Civic Award, and Julie Hall was named Citizen of the Year. Other nominees for Citizen of the Year included Stephen Barton, Karen Mill- ington, and Lesley Monks. In the environmental cat- egory, Peter Hulse won the adult award, and Harper Anderson-Ashton won the young person's award. Katie Smillie was named Young Citizen of the Year, with Esme Robinson, Elias Phil- lips-Tighe, and Freddie Mur- phy also nominated. A special part of the evening was celebrating the 50th anni- versary of the HoughtonWeav- ers. The council granted them the Freedom of the Town, with David Littler, Denis Littler, and Norman Prince receiving their certificates. Jim Berry, Steve Mill- ington, and Andrea Berry received theirs at their con- cert on March 21 at St Bart- holomew’s Church. They are looking forward to driving their sheep through the town and letting them graze in Westhoughton Central Park! It was a nice night with a strong sense of community. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! TALKIN' TABLES: BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AS Mayor of Horwich, it's always a pleasure to support initiatives that foster commu- nity spirit and well-being. One such initiative that con- tinues to impress is Talkin' Tables, a programme designed to tackle loneliness by offering a welcoming space for anyone 10 11 Monday Tuesday The Mayor’s Diary THE MAYOR’S DIARY MAKING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS IAN ALDCROFT, the mayor of Horwich, gives us the latest update on his busy schedule of civic events as his year of office moves towards its close MARCH 9: AMBULANCES HEAD TO UKRAINE ACONVOY of four ambulances and support vehicles departed from Bolton Town Hall, bound for Ukraine. The initiative was led by the mayors of Bolton, Westhoughton and Blackrod, who personally drove the ambulances to Poland for onward delivery. As the Mayor of Horwich, I was honoured to attend and show support for this noble cause. The convoy was packed with food, clothing, and first aid supplies, which would be handed over to Ukrainian aid workers in Krakow, Poland. This humanitarian effort highlights the strong commu- nity support for Ukraine and underscores the importance of collaborative initiatives in times of crisis. This mission will play a cru- cial role in evacuating and treating injured civilians and soldiers, contributing signif- icantly to the ongoing relief efforts. It was inspiring to see local leaders and communi- ties come together to make a difference in the lives of those affected by the conflict. WINE TASTING EVENING WITH LAITHWAITES WINE Those interested in supporting my chosen charities are invited toattendaWineTastingEveningwithLaithwaitesWineonApril 12, at LostockTennis Club.Tickets are £20 and available directly fromme at 01204 695872 or 0779 26278. That’s all for this issue. Next time will be my last report, I will befollowedbyVictoriaRigbywhowillbeinauguratedonMay8. ways we can all contribute to looking after our environment and reducing our impact on the planet. A variety of local organisa- tions were present, showcas- ing their work. One stall that caught my eye featured bicy- cles modified to power blenders - a fun way to create smoothies through pedal power! Another stall offered a hands-on activity where attendees could make bird feeders from everyday items such as toilet rolls, lard, and bird seed. I also spoke with repre- sentatives from Extinction Rebellion, who were present to discuss their views on envi- ronmental issues. It was great to see so many people coming together to learn more about sustain- able practices and how we can all take small steps to make a positive impact on our environment. MARCH 15: MAYOR'S SPRING BALL THE charity event at Ridg- mont House, which we would describe as ‘more like a soirée than a ball,’ featured sophis- ticated entertainment, fine dining, and a raffle that col- lectively raised over £800 for my chosen charities. Guests were welcomed with musical entertainment from the talented duo 'Only on a Wednesday,' comprising Dave Chivers and Jo Bishop. We all enjoyed a splen- did three-course dinner. Among our guests were the mayors of Blackrod and Westhoughton with their partners, local councillors, and representatives from my chosen charities. These are Rockit, which provides opportunities for young people to explore crea- tive skills in music; Daytrip- pers Bolton, which organises accessible outings for families with disabled children; and Horwich Cleanup Brigade, a volunteer group dedicated to keeping our town tidy. After dinner, 'Only on a Wednesday' resumed their per- formance until our much-antic- ipated raffle began. Notable prizes included a bottle of House of Com- mons whisky donated by our local MP Phil Brickell. Other generous raffle prize donors included Peter Han- nis of the Masons, Greeleys Butchers, Flowersmiths, and Slater Menswear. We would like to extend spe- cial thanks to Liz Hamer for her beautiful flower arrange- ments and to Ridgmont House Events for hosting us. MARCH 25: ADLINGTON TOWN MAYOR'S BINGO NIGHT JANET and I attended Adlington’s Bingo Night at St Paul’s Social Club, hosted by Mayor Cllr Kim Snape. The evening aimed to raise funds for the Adlington Sat- ellite Youth Club at Fairview Youth and Community Cen- tre, which provides a valuable two-hour weekly session for local young people, staffed by Chorley Inspire youth workers. We were joined by Neil and Pauline Maher, the mayor and mayoress of Westhoughton, and Gordon and Margaret France, the mayor and mayor- ess of Chorley. Neither Janet nor I had played bingo before, so we were a little out of our depth. Janet suggested we needed ‘dobbers’, but I soon real- ised she meant ‘dabbers’— the tools for marking your cards. A small but impor- tant distinction! Despite our lack of success at the games, the evening raised an impressive £800 for the youth club, and it was heartening to see so many people supporting a worthy cause. Next time, maybe the bingo gods will be more generous… looking to join in conversation over a warm drink. Janet and I attended the inaugural Talkin' Tables event at Blanco Lounge in Middlebrook. It was our third time attending one of these gatherings during my term as mayor Talkin' Tables aims to create a safe, inclusive space where anyone can join a conversation, no matter their background. The tables are clearly marked, inviting people to pull up a chair, enjoy a drink and chat with others. Each gathering is led by a table host who wel- comes attendees and ensures the event runs smoothly, cre- ating an environment where people can feel comfortable. Throughout the event, I had the chance to speak with a variety of local people, shar- ing thoughts over a coffee and some biscuits. It’s good to hear how Talkin' Tables is making such a positive difference in our community, helping to combat loneliness and offer people a space to be heard and engaged. The Talkin’ Tables initia- tive runs across various loca- tions in Horwich and Blackrod throughout the week. As someone who values the sense of community, I cannot recommend enough that you pop along to one of these tables. It’s a great opportunity to meet new peo- ple, share ideas, and enjoy a warm, friendly atmosphere. Janet and I had a lovely hour. It was heartwarming to see how something as simple as a table and a cup of coffee can bring people together, fighting loneliness one con- versation at a time. I encourage anyone who might be feeling isolated, or even those who just want to make a new friend, to come along and join in. MARCH 15: COMMUNITY ECO FESTIVAL I ATTENDED the Commu- nity Eco Festival at St Cath- erine's Church in Horwich. While Janet was busy pre- paring for the Mayor’s Spring Ball later that evening, I had the opportunity to explore the event and engage with some of the local initiatives focused on sustainability. The festival was designed to inform attendees about