Cllr Ian Jackson from Harlow Jewish Community has asked me to say a few words of welcome at the Holocaust Memorial Day event in the local synagogue this afternoon. This is my speech:
"The word welcome seems to sit uneasily in the context of an event to mark the Holocaust, so instead I will simply say - thank you for being here today.
The primary purpose of this afternoon is to reflect on the terrible events of the Nazi Holocaust of the last century. The Holocaust holds a unique place in history, for the scale and scope of the evil unleashed upon the world. The genocide of millions of people - Jewish, gay, disabled, gypsy or dissident.
We recall the horror of those years, the slaughter of innocent millions, and the hatred that perpetrated it. We recall the courage of those who endured - and of those who defied, who stood up and were counted, who made a difference.
Today is an opportunity to reflect on the victims of that genocide, and also of others more recent, in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur; to rededicate ourselves to opposing intolerance; and to be thankful for the goodness, the humanity and the selfnessness that has shone even in such darkness."
The theme of the afternoon is Imagine - Remember, Reflect, React. The synagogue is lively not only with the full crowd gathered for the event, but with dozens of coloured and cut-out paper butterflies. The St John Nursing Cadets form a guard of honour to welcome guests; a memorial candle is lit at the front.
Holocaust survivor Rose Gotley reads another of her recollections; youth councillors, the MP and others give readings, including Kuzna Jackson reading the words of John Lennon's popular song Imagine. Children from the synagogue Cheder class read poems and the younger ones show us the work they've done on the theme of "if I could only take one special thing in a suitcase with me, what would it be?"
Rev Noelle Taylor from St Mary at Latton gives a thought-provoking address, and Rabbi Irit reads the Kaddish. Several of us who've been primed by Ian then lay small memorial pebbles in front of the memorial candle - still burning brightly - to represent those killed in the Holocaust and in other genocides. Meanwhile, there's music playing in the background. In the Terezin (Theresienstadt) camp a number of musicians and artists were imprisoned; and quite incredibly, in the midst of all the horror, they wrote and performed music, including this piece, Brundibar, an thinly-veiled opera about children trying to usurp a local ogre. Council joint leader Chris Millington has lent his copy for the occasion, and the effect is quite eerie.
It's a moving ceremony - pause for thought about events that are now over sixty years old, but must never be allowed to be forgotten.
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Healthy Living
I can't say I'm exactly an advertisement for healthy living myself - I don't smoke and my diet isn't too bad, but I don't get time for exercise and I probably have more than my recommended maximum fourteen units of alcohol a week.
But I've been invited to the Harlow central library to see today's Healthy Living exhibition. It's about as far from the 'shhh' image of libraries as you could get. There's head massage, Yoga Bugs, Harlow Judo Club, stands for Harlow College and Hertford Regional College, Active Harlow, the Primary Care Trust, Shotokan Karate, sufi meditation, Hydrashape-me and more.
Asda, Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys and Tesco have donated free fruit to promote healthy eating; there's a children's fruit trail and quiz - and anyone joining the library today gets a free DVD rental from Essex Libraries and is entered into a raffle with prizes donated by Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco.
The Primary Care Trust has a very nasty-looking jar full of grubby stuff, which apparently represents the annual tar contents of someone's lungs after smoking 20-a-day. Harlow Council's Environmental Health Service is almost as scary, with dead bugs and beetles in dishes, and an ultra-violet machine where you can see just how thoroughly you have (or haven't) washed your hands.
Joanne Smeeth, Darren Smart and Jenny Salisbury from the Essex library service show me round, together with county councillor David Finch. We're photographed holding a bowl of fruit, and I'm photographed with some exercise equipment at the Hydrashape-me stand; and we get a chance to talk to the stallholders.
The invitation was only for half an hour, but there's so much to see that I'm there for over an hour and a quarter. The library is filling up as I leave; the Harlow central library is now the third busiest in the county - after Chelmsford and Colchester - and with everything that's going on today I can see why.
But I've been invited to the Harlow central library to see today's Healthy Living exhibition. It's about as far from the 'shhh' image of libraries as you could get. There's head massage, Yoga Bugs, Harlow Judo Club, stands for Harlow College and Hertford Regional College, Active Harlow, the Primary Care Trust, Shotokan Karate, sufi meditation, Hydrashape-me and more.
Asda, Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys and Tesco have donated free fruit to promote healthy eating; there's a children's fruit trail and quiz - and anyone joining the library today gets a free DVD rental from Essex Libraries and is entered into a raffle with prizes donated by Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco.
The Primary Care Trust has a very nasty-looking jar full of grubby stuff, which apparently represents the annual tar contents of someone's lungs after smoking 20-a-day. Harlow Council's Environmental Health Service is almost as scary, with dead bugs and beetles in dishes, and an ultra-violet machine where you can see just how thoroughly you have (or haven't) washed your hands.
Joanne Smeeth, Darren Smart and Jenny Salisbury from the Essex library service show me round, together with county councillor David Finch. We're photographed holding a bowl of fruit, and I'm photographed with some exercise equipment at the Hydrashape-me stand; and we get a chance to talk to the stallholders.
The invitation was only for half an hour, but there's so much to see that I'm there for over an hour and a quarter. The library is filling up as I leave; the Harlow central library is now the third busiest in the county - after Chelmsford and Colchester - and with everything that's going on today I can see why.
Friday, 25 January 2008
Tree of Life
Several months ago, I took part in the first Window Works project in Harlow - Window Jewels in an empty store near Domino's pizza outlet in Westgate Square. Now a new one is about to be installed, at what was Clarks shoe shop in the Harvey Centre.
The inspiration for this latest project is the colourful work of Norval Morrisseau, a Canadian artist inspired by native American designs. Over the last week several groups, including the Friends of Harlow Sculpture, the Magazine Club and the Fifty Club, have been working away in the Gibberd Gallery at the Civic Centre to create a 'Tree of Life' under the guidance of artist Aña Terry.
It's a brilliant design, full of bold colours and vivid images of wildlife, and although at the moment it's all laid out in pieces on the floor of the Gibberd Gallery, it'll be really exciting to see it installed.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Essex Yeomanry
I've been particularly pleased during my year in office as Chairman to build relationships with our local TA Centre in Old Road. I went to visit them on parade last year; they provided the guard of honour for my Civic Dinner last October, and I put them in touch with Harlow College to enable them to recruit at the College's freshers' fair.
We've had an invitation from the Essex Yeomanry, one of whose units is stationed at the Centre, to drinks at their office in Lincoln's Inn in central London. It's a much larger event than I'd expected, with mayors and chairs of councils like Harlow and Chelmsford which are home to Yeomanry units, as well as TA officers. We're made very welcome indeed by Major Julian Picton, whom I've met before at Old Road.
Volunteers for the TA have a lot in common with councillors - while holding down a day job, they give their spare time to serve their local community (though of course, the TA volunteers have the added factor of possibly finding themselves sent out to do tours of duty in Bosnia, Afghanistan or Iraq). The Yeomanry seem very pleased that the various mayors and chairs have accepted their hospitality to demonstrate our interest in, and commitment to, the local TA in our districts. It's a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
We've had an invitation from the Essex Yeomanry, one of whose units is stationed at the Centre, to drinks at their office in Lincoln's Inn in central London. It's a much larger event than I'd expected, with mayors and chairs of councils like Harlow and Chelmsford which are home to Yeomanry units, as well as TA officers. We're made very welcome indeed by Major Julian Picton, whom I've met before at Old Road.
Volunteers for the TA have a lot in common with councillors - while holding down a day job, they give their spare time to serve their local community (though of course, the TA volunteers have the added factor of possibly finding themselves sent out to do tours of duty in Bosnia, Afghanistan or Iraq). The Yeomanry seem very pleased that the various mayors and chairs have accepted their hospitality to demonstrate our interest in, and commitment to, the local TA in our districts. It's a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Pride in Harlow
My predecessor as Chairman, Cllr Greg Peck, launched a scheme last year (now closed) called the Pride in Harlow awards. Run in association with Ten-17 Radio as part of the town's 60th birthday celebrations, the aim of the initiative was to recognise and celebrate Harlow's special people and their role in helping make Harlow a special place to live.
I've been asked to judge the awards in association with representatives of Ten-17, Freddie and Wyatt. There are a number of nominations and we consider them carefully. The stories are often moving, always inspirational, about people who have made a real difference, whether to their family, a group or organisation, or the town as a whole. It takes a little while, but we eventually agree our winners and runners-up.
The presentation of the awards will take place on Friday of next week, and I'm looking forward to putting faces to names and meeting all these people who have earned the respect and gratitude of those who've nominated them.
I've been asked to judge the awards in association with representatives of Ten-17, Freddie and Wyatt. There are a number of nominations and we consider them carefully. The stories are often moving, always inspirational, about people who have made a real difference, whether to their family, a group or organisation, or the town as a whole. It takes a little while, but we eventually agree our winners and runners-up.
The presentation of the awards will take place on Friday of next week, and I'm looking forward to putting faces to names and meeting all these people who have earned the respect and gratitude of those who've nominated them.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Latton Green
Half past nine sees me at Latton Green primary school, talking with headteacher Ms Handscomb about my Raising Aspirations project. She shows me some very impressive work the children have been doing as part of something called SEAL - Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning. It's an opportunity for children to think and write (and open up a discussion with parents and school staff) about exactly the sort of things I'm thinking about - ambition, self-confidence, determination and motivation.
She also introduces me to the "Schools of Character" programme, something I've not come across before, but which also looks as if it could address some of the issues my project is about. It seems to me that there's something really interesting and valuable happening here, and I'm impressed and delighted.
I welcome the opportunity to take a quick tour of the school. All the classes are hard at work - one class practising handwriting, another recognising words occurring in fairy tales, a third doing PE in the hall. There's a display on the wall organised by the children who are play leaders, who organise games and activities in break times.
Just as I'm about to leave, there's a power cut. So the computers aren't working and the lighting is off, but the more serious question is, will the children get lunch?
She also introduces me to the "Schools of Character" programme, something I've not come across before, but which also looks as if it could address some of the issues my project is about. It seems to me that there's something really interesting and valuable happening here, and I'm impressed and delighted.
I welcome the opportunity to take a quick tour of the school. All the classes are hard at work - one class practising handwriting, another recognising words occurring in fairy tales, a third doing PE in the hall. There's a display on the wall organised by the children who are play leaders, who organise games and activities in break times.
Just as I'm about to leave, there's a power cut. So the computers aren't working and the lighting is off, but the more serious question is, will the children get lunch?
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Black Gold
I've just set up my first-ever event on Facebook, to encourage people to come along to the special showing of Black Gold at the Playhouse on Tuesday 26 February.
The film - being shown in Harlow during Fairtrade Fortnight - is an exposé of the multi-billion dollar coffee industry, and the fight of Ethiopian coffee growers for a fair price.
The 7:45pm showing of this documentary will be followed by a special opportunity to discuss the film with directors Mark and Nick Francis, who will be happy to answer questions about the making of the documentary, the motivations behind it and the lessons that have been learned as a result. The film (alone) will also be shown at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
Ticket prices for the evening showing are £6 (£5 concessions); or £5 (£4 concessions) for the 11am and 2pm screenings. Groups can take advantage of the Playhouse's 4-tickets-for-the-price-of-3 promotion. The running time is 78 minutes.
The film - being shown in Harlow during Fairtrade Fortnight - is an exposé of the multi-billion dollar coffee industry, and the fight of Ethiopian coffee growers for a fair price.
The 7:45pm showing of this documentary will be followed by a special opportunity to discuss the film with directors Mark and Nick Francis, who will be happy to answer questions about the making of the documentary, the motivations behind it and the lessons that have been learned as a result. The film (alone) will also be shown at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
Ticket prices for the evening showing are £6 (£5 concessions); or £5 (£4 concessions) for the 11am and 2pm screenings. Groups can take advantage of the Playhouse's 4-tickets-for-the-price-of-3 promotion. The running time is 78 minutes.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
When Time Collapses
I'm rather early at the Playhouse, despite the fact that I've had a meeting with council officers in Redstone House, and then rushed round doing my errands in WH Smith, Nationwide, Accessorize (sister's birthday) and to the Civic Centre to collect some tickets for an event later this month.
My diary says I'm supposed to be at the Playhouse for one o'clock, but in fact the play doesn't start till two - so I settle down in the Playhouse bar with a half of Strongbow and a packet of crisps for my lunch, and to use my phone to update my Facebook status to tell my friends that I'm in the Playhouse bar with a half of Strongbow and a packet of crisps for my lunch ...
The hubbub downstairs is getting louder and louder, and I realise it's the invited audience for this afternoon's play, which includes a clutch (is that the right collective noun?) of Police Community Support Officers.
The play is called When Time Collapses, written by Polly Wright and put on by the Hearth Centre. It's about one family's experiences of what happens when serious mental illness isn't picked up early. It's presented by the Braintree Rethink carers' support group, who have been awarded 'Awards for All' money from the lottery to stage this performance in five towns in Essex - including Harlow.
For those who've seen performances by local theatre group TheatreActive, the pattern is quite similar. In this instance, the actors spend about fifty minutes depicting the story - from the worried mum's visit to the (less than effective) GP, ostensibly about her headaches but really about son Martin's unusual behaviour, to Martin being picked up by the police and referred for in-patient psychiatric treatment. The portrayal of Martin's mental deterioration is amazingly powerful, and as the consultant next to me says, shows very effectively just how frightening the whole experience is for the patient involved.
After the performance, the invited audience - which includes service users and carers, health and social services and other professionals, the police, college students and others - has the chance to discuss in detail the first point at which a professional was involved: the visit to the GP's surgery, and how the GP could have handled it better. The actors then revisited the scene, and acted it completely differently based on the audience's suggestions.
It was interesting to see the drama stimulate a lively debate between the professionals in the audience, especially about whether it was right or wrong for the GP to ask the mum whether she thought her son might have been abusing drugs or alcohol. And it was impressive how well the actors responded to the audience and reflected the suggestions in their performance.
Mental ill-health has come out of the shadows in the last twenty or thirty years, but still often has an unwarranted stigma attached to it. Many of us will have episodes of mental ill-health in our lives (I was on medication for severe depression for over five years in my late teens and early twenties), and it's good that organisations such as Rethink are there, supporting patients and families, and promoting this kind of discussion.
My diary says I'm supposed to be at the Playhouse for one o'clock, but in fact the play doesn't start till two - so I settle down in the Playhouse bar with a half of Strongbow and a packet of crisps for my lunch, and to use my phone to update my Facebook status to tell my friends that I'm in the Playhouse bar with a half of Strongbow and a packet of crisps for my lunch ...
The hubbub downstairs is getting louder and louder, and I realise it's the invited audience for this afternoon's play, which includes a clutch (is that the right collective noun?) of Police Community Support Officers.
The play is called When Time Collapses, written by Polly Wright and put on by the Hearth Centre. It's about one family's experiences of what happens when serious mental illness isn't picked up early. It's presented by the Braintree Rethink carers' support group, who have been awarded 'Awards for All' money from the lottery to stage this performance in five towns in Essex - including Harlow.
For those who've seen performances by local theatre group TheatreActive, the pattern is quite similar. In this instance, the actors spend about fifty minutes depicting the story - from the worried mum's visit to the (less than effective) GP, ostensibly about her headaches but really about son Martin's unusual behaviour, to Martin being picked up by the police and referred for in-patient psychiatric treatment. The portrayal of Martin's mental deterioration is amazingly powerful, and as the consultant next to me says, shows very effectively just how frightening the whole experience is for the patient involved.
After the performance, the invited audience - which includes service users and carers, health and social services and other professionals, the police, college students and others - has the chance to discuss in detail the first point at which a professional was involved: the visit to the GP's surgery, and how the GP could have handled it better. The actors then revisited the scene, and acted it completely differently based on the audience's suggestions.
It was interesting to see the drama stimulate a lively debate between the professionals in the audience, especially about whether it was right or wrong for the GP to ask the mum whether she thought her son might have been abusing drugs or alcohol. And it was impressive how well the actors responded to the audience and reflected the suggestions in their performance.
Mental ill-health has come out of the shadows in the last twenty or thirty years, but still often has an unwarranted stigma attached to it. Many of us will have episodes of mental ill-health in our lives (I was on medication for severe depression for over five years in my late teens and early twenties), and it's good that organisations such as Rethink are there, supporting patients and families, and promoting this kind of discussion.
Monday, 14 January 2008
Raising aspirations - have your say
As regular readers of my diary will know, my project for this year is about raising aspirations for children and young people. I'm keen to hear what residents of Harlow have to say about this, so there's now a link from the council's front page to an online form where you can answer a few questions and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Nicole Richie's baby
I'm phoned by a news agency this morning, asking me for a comment on the news that celebrity Nicole Richie has named her new baby Harlow.
It's good to know that Harlow is now right up there with Brooklyn and Phoenix as places after which celebrities want to name their children. I look forward to welcoming Nicole and baby Harlow to our town as soon as their busy schedule allows.
It's good to know that Harlow is now right up there with Brooklyn and Phoenix as places after which celebrities want to name their children. I look forward to welcoming Nicole and baby Harlow to our town as soon as their busy schedule allows.
Friday, 11 January 2008
Trees
Tonight is the opening night of a new art display in the Gibberd Gallery. It's by the Serendipity art group, which meets at St John's ARC in Old Harlow, and it's part of the town's ongoing 60th birthday celebrations. They've chosen the subject of trees, and there are some marvellous paintings of local trees, grouped by the area of Harlow they portray.
I'm struck by Moira Jones's paintings of Bishopsfield, where Nick and I lived when we first moved to Harlow; but unfortunately they're not for sale. There are lots of other very recognisable landscapes, though, superbly painted in a variety of media.
In the end I use my Chairman's budget to buy two paintings to mark the town's anniversary - one of trees at St Mary at Latton with the ancient church in the background, the other of water and trees in the Town Park with office buildings in the background. Together they represent Harlow old and new, just right to mark Harlow's birthday.
I'm struck by Moira Jones's paintings of Bishopsfield, where Nick and I lived when we first moved to Harlow; but unfortunately they're not for sale. There are lots of other very recognisable landscapes, though, superbly painted in a variety of media.
In the end I use my Chairman's budget to buy two paintings to mark the town's anniversary - one of trees at St Mary at Latton with the ancient church in the background, the other of water and trees in the Town Park with office buildings in the background. Together they represent Harlow old and new, just right to mark Harlow's birthday.
Awards for all
I've been invited to help give out certificates at The Square tonight, as part of the awards evening for young people who have been taking part in the Harlow Youth Council, the Young Essex Assembly, and the Harlow Youth Bank.
Nick and I arrive just before six o'clock, and the room is already full of young people. At about ten past six Bridget calls everyone to order, and the large numbers of certificates are presented. There are many different certificates, from Duke of Edinburgh awards to ASDAN certificates. I'm presenting awards for hours spent on community work - bronze (for 20+ hours), silver (60+ hours), gold (100+) and platinum (200+).
It's great to see so many young people who are enthusiastic about playing a part in the local community, as well as learning new skills which will be immensely useful in their later working lives.
Nick and I arrive just before six o'clock, and the room is already full of young people. At about ten past six Bridget calls everyone to order, and the large numbers of certificates are presented. There are many different certificates, from Duke of Edinburgh awards to ASDAN certificates. I'm presenting awards for hours spent on community work - bronze (for 20+ hours), silver (60+ hours), gold (100+) and platinum (200+).
It's great to see so many young people who are enthusiastic about playing a part in the local community, as well as learning new skills which will be immensely useful in their later working lives.
Light Up a Life feedback
I've received a letter from St Clare Hospice about the Light Up a Life service at the Civic Centre last month. It says:
"Thank you very much for supporting the Light Up a Life Service at the Civic Centre.
We have had a very good positive feed-back from those who attended the various services saying how much they appreciated the chance to remember loved ones in this way.
The total raised from the Light Up a Life campaign is in excess of £20,000."
"Thank you very much for supporting the Light Up a Life Service at the Civic Centre.
We have had a very good positive feed-back from those who attended the various services saying how much they appreciated the chance to remember loved ones in this way.
The total raised from the Light Up a Life campaign is in excess of £20,000."
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Aspirations at Burnt Mill
By the time I've chaired a meeting at the Advice Centre, put in a work expenses cheque at the Nationwide, and queued to return a package at the Post Office, I'm running late.
But I have to let the dog into the garden before heading off to my two o'clock meeting at Burnt Mill School, otherwise he'll be sitting there with his legs crossed by the time I get home - so rather than head straight from the town centre to Burnt Mill, I have to get a cab home first, and then another one fifteen minutes later.
My two o'clock meeting is with the head teacher, Mr Chamberlain, whom I've not yet met. My children, now grown up, went to Burnt Mill, but I've not been there since they left five years ago, and a lot has changed. There's a new reception desk - and a new head.
I'm very heartened to hear what Mr Chamberlain has to say about the changes that have been happening at Burnt Mill, and about some of the initiatives being put in place. At half past two, deputy head boy and girl Will and Jess join us - they've plenty to say for themselves, and their contribution to the discussion is yet another insight for my 'aspirations' project.
But I have to let the dog into the garden before heading off to my two o'clock meeting at Burnt Mill School, otherwise he'll be sitting there with his legs crossed by the time I get home - so rather than head straight from the town centre to Burnt Mill, I have to get a cab home first, and then another one fifteen minutes later.
My two o'clock meeting is with the head teacher, Mr Chamberlain, whom I've not yet met. My children, now grown up, went to Burnt Mill, but I've not been there since they left five years ago, and a lot has changed. There's a new reception desk - and a new head.
I'm very heartened to hear what Mr Chamberlain has to say about the changes that have been happening at Burnt Mill, and about some of the initiatives being put in place. At half past two, deputy head boy and girl Will and Jess join us - they've plenty to say for themselves, and their contribution to the discussion is yet another insight for my 'aspirations' project.
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Happy New Year
A happy and prosperous 2008 to everyone. I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year, and weren't struck down by the norovirus like some of my relatives.
Unfortunately, I managed to break my MP3 player on Christmas Eve when I got the lead from the headphone wrapped round part of a Tesco supermarket trolley at the trolley point outside the Playhouse - the damage isn't covered by warranty, and it's not economical to buy a new one as the device has more than doubled in price since I bought it in April; and the new stereo bluetooth headset I ordered online arrived held together with sticky tape (I'm not joking).
Notwithstanding, it's nice to be able to work at my desk to the strains of the 22 new music CDs I've been fortunate enough to accumulate for my birthday and Christmas (Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana by S.E. Rogie is playing as I write, if you're interested).
Now that the holiday is over, I'm spending my spare time clearing and filing some of the heaps of paper, tidying the study, beginning to turn my attention to the 218 emails requiring my attention, and sorting out my diary. My next engagement as Chairman is on Tuesday afternoon, but my diary for January is already very crammed and there are several potential clashes, so I need to be clear what's on and what's not.
Sitting watching TV and reading books over the holiday has played havoc with my back, so I'm off to take some more ibuprofen and get a good night's sleep if I can.
Unfortunately, I managed to break my MP3 player on Christmas Eve when I got the lead from the headphone wrapped round part of a Tesco supermarket trolley at the trolley point outside the Playhouse - the damage isn't covered by warranty, and it's not economical to buy a new one as the device has more than doubled in price since I bought it in April; and the new stereo bluetooth headset I ordered online arrived held together with sticky tape (I'm not joking).
Notwithstanding, it's nice to be able to work at my desk to the strains of the 22 new music CDs I've been fortunate enough to accumulate for my birthday and Christmas (Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana by S.E. Rogie is playing as I write, if you're interested).
Now that the holiday is over, I'm spending my spare time clearing and filing some of the heaps of paper, tidying the study, beginning to turn my attention to the 218 emails requiring my attention, and sorting out my diary. My next engagement as Chairman is on Tuesday afternoon, but my diary for January is already very crammed and there are several potential clashes, so I need to be clear what's on and what's not.
Sitting watching TV and reading books over the holiday has played havoc with my back, so I'm off to take some more ibuprofen and get a good night's sleep if I can.
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