I've been invited to join Harlow's Member of Parliament to help present the Veterans' Service Lapel Badge to a number of local veterans, in an event at the Civic Centre. I arrive at about twenty past five to make sure I'm on time for the five thirty start, to find Nick and most of the recipients and their families already there.
The MP introduces the event, and explains the significance of the Badge. I say a few words about how important it is that the community publicly remembers the courage and service of our veterans. And then we call each recipient (or their representative) up individually to receive their Badge: Mr Ferry, Mr Bailey, Mr Muggeridge, Mr Eaton, Mr Hartley, Mr Janes, Mr Wright, Mr Lawrence, Mr Rodd, Mr Harvey, Mr Brooker, Mr Collins, Mr Letherbarrow, Mr Hourigan, Mr Long, Mr Treadwell, Mr Selfe, Mr Dent, Mrs Dent, Mr Lee, and the relatives of Mr Ceely. It's humbling to meet them all and remember the service they've given their country.
A cup of tea is just what is needed at such an event, so we adjourn downstairs to one of the committee rooms, where cups and saucers and cakes are waiting. There's a coffee and tea machine - one of those ones that you have to post the sachet into and it almost bites your fingers off, and if you forget to put the cup under the spout it all dribbles into the drip tray at the bottom. Each cup takes about half a minute to make, and the inexorable laws of mathematics suggest that it'll therefore take about twenty minutes to finish serving our guests. I do duty at the machine, posting sachets and placing cups, while Nick and one of the MP's staff rush round the tables with the filled cups of tea and coffee and put out little saucers of UHT milk and sachets of sugar.
When everyone's served, we have a little time to talk to the veterans and their families. I'm thrilled to find that one gentleman present was actually involved in the liberation of my home island of Jersey - he tells me how he arrived off St Brelade's Bay on 7 May (the island was liberated on 9 May), and I tell him how my Mum for many years organised the annual remembrance of Liberation Day at the island's memorial to the slave workers of the Occupation.
We gather for a group photo at the foot of the stairs leading to the council chamber, and then disperse for the weekend.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Follow Your Dreams
The Follow Your Dreams charity roadshow has come to the Harvey Centre, complete with founder Martin Harris, pirate hats, pirate swords, pirate guns, pirate sashes and pirate treasure chests. Call me prescient, but I'm guessing this is something to do with pirates.
Pupils from Oak View special school in Loughton are there, and each - adorned with skull and crossbones hat or sash and twirling their weapon of choice - takes it in turn to stand on a 'treasure chest' soap box and tell a joke or sing a song, in full view of passers-by. The event has been sponsored by the Park Inn hotel, and in addition to the goings-on from the soap box, there's a big tombola with lots of prizes - with the money raised going to support children with special needs.
I've come directly from two back-to-back school assemblies and I'm off to a meeting at half past eleven, so I can't stay long, but the fun is still in full swing as I leave.
Pupils from Oak View special school in Loughton are there, and each - adorned with skull and crossbones hat or sash and twirling their weapon of choice - takes it in turn to stand on a 'treasure chest' soap box and tell a joke or sing a song, in full view of passers-by. The event has been sponsored by the Park Inn hotel, and in addition to the goings-on from the soap box, there's a big tombola with lots of prizes - with the money raised going to support children with special needs.
I've come directly from two back-to-back school assemblies and I'm off to a meeting at half past eleven, so I can't stay long, but the fun is still in full swing as I leave.
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Fairtrade launch
More Fairtrade today, with the launch event in the Civic Centre. I give an opening speech reminding people of the process we've been through to become a Fairtrade Town, and the work that's still ahead. There's now a local Harlow Fairtrade leaflet available, which lists all the retailers, cafés and other outlets in the town that sell Fairtrade products. A round green Fairtrade sticker will start appearing in April on the premises of those businesses who deal in Fairtrade goods.
And of course, there's the Fairtrade photo exhibition in the Gibberd Gallery. It's on till 8 March, so do pop along and see it if you can - today has been my first opportunity to view it, and it's great.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Black Gold
I've got 7:30 in my diary as the start time for the showing of Black Gold, so I arrive at the Playhouse at 7:15 - only to realise that the showing isn't till 7:45. Still, all the more time to sip a diet cola and to try the samples of fairtrade orange juice and chocolate on show in the Playhouse bar area.
It's a very interesting film, following the story of a coffee co-operative in Ethiopia, home of some of the best coffee in the world - and how their negotiator Tadesse Meskela travels the world to try to find buyers prepared to pay a fair price for his growers' coffee. It's difficult; the big players such as Kraft, Nestlé, Proctor & Gamble and Sara Lee are continuing to push down the price paid to the growers - many of whom are resorting to clear swathes of their coffee groves to make way for 'chat', the local narcotic, which commands a better price than coffee. It's about keeping the wolf from the door after all, and starvation is never far away.
The film is followed by a chance to ask questions of the two directors of the film, Nick and Marc Francis, who spent two and a half years making the film and have now spent another eighteen months travelling round the world promoting it at events like this. Nick and Marc tell us that an education pack for use with the film will shortly be uploaded onto the film's website for use by schools.
It's a fascinating and thought-provoking evening.
Aspirations and Respect
The council's 'Respect' team, based at the council's Staple Tye office, has agreed to give me its views about my Aspirations project. Ben, Alan, Terry, Christine, Tracey, Sue and Pete are all there, and have plenty they want to say, based on the work they've been doing in the local community.
It's a wide-ranging conversation, from lack of apprenticeships and careers guidance to the disincentive of high house prices and the importance of positive male role models. We tackle some interesting questions. Has Jo Frost as Supernanny on television broken down the barrier to parents asking for help in coping with looking after their children? Do we spend too much time and resources on a small minority of children, and not enough on the majority?
And Christine suggests a really exciting idea. There's a national project tracking a group of children born in the year 2000 over 25 years. Should we consider setting up our own Harlow study of a group of children born in Harlow's 60th birthday year, to help us track their development and better understand how we can help our children and young people achieve their full potential?
It's a wide-ranging conversation, from lack of apprenticeships and careers guidance to the disincentive of high house prices and the importance of positive male role models. We tackle some interesting questions. Has Jo Frost as Supernanny on television broken down the barrier to parents asking for help in coping with looking after their children? Do we spend too much time and resources on a small minority of children, and not enough on the majority?
And Christine suggests a really exciting idea. There's a national project tracking a group of children born in the year 2000 over 25 years. Should we consider setting up our own Harlow study of a group of children born in Harlow's 60th birthday year, to help us track their development and better understand how we can help our children and young people achieve their full potential?
Monday, 25 February 2008
Diary meeting
After a morning working at the day job, interrupted by a pleasant half hour at the dentist having my new crown fitted, and a Fairtrade coffee with my friend Ruth at Esquire's, I've got an appointment with my PA Sue. We spend forty minutes going through the next two weeks' diary commitments, sorting out correspondence, and running through the plans for Marcela's presentation about Prague next Wednesday at the Civic Centre.
There are also the three paintings to hang which I've bought from the Chairman's budget - the one of the church at Waterhouse Moor, and the two from the recent 'trees' exhibition by local amateur artists to celebrate Harlow's sixtieth birthday. Sue and I decide where they'll go, and those with more expertise than I at knocking in nails will hang them in the Chairman's Suite as soon as convenient.
There's just time to pop into Monsoon to buy a blouse, before heading off home to join Georgina in putting together a quick supper for the family before heading off to a meeting in my ward. Perhaps a recipe involving Stilton and garlic wasn't the cleverest move - I'll try hard not to breathe on people.
There are also the three paintings to hang which I've bought from the Chairman's budget - the one of the church at Waterhouse Moor, and the two from the recent 'trees' exhibition by local amateur artists to celebrate Harlow's sixtieth birthday. Sue and I decide where they'll go, and those with more expertise than I at knocking in nails will hang them in the Chairman's Suite as soon as convenient.
There's just time to pop into Monsoon to buy a blouse, before heading off home to join Georgina in putting together a quick supper for the family before heading off to a meeting in my ward. Perhaps a recipe involving Stilton and garlic wasn't the cleverest move - I'll try hard not to breathe on people.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
A busy two weeks ahead
It's a busy couple of weeks ahead. Not only is my desk swamped with paper and my inbox overwhelmed with email, but I've been working (in my day job) in London for three out of the last four Saturdays, and I've got another one to go this coming Saturday.
Meanwhile, it's Fairtrade Fortnight, and so on Tuesday night I'll be at the showing of Black Gold at the Playhouse, and on Wednesday afternoon there's the launch of the event locally, which this year includes a Celebrity Fairtrade Secrets photo exhibition in the Gibberd Gallery.
(I was pleased to get extra Nectar points at Sainsbury's this morning on my Fairtrade tea, coffee, bananas and chocolate, to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight).
On Friday there's an event in the Harvey Centre in the morning, and another in the Civic Centre before dinner. On Saturday when I get back from working in London I have to be at the Latton Bush Centre in the evening.
The following Monday I have an all-day meeting about my aspirations project, and on Tuesday Marcela and her husband George will arrive from Prague, and Nick and I will take them out to dinner.
On the Wednesday, I'll be speaking to the Harlow Voluntary Sector Forum before the International Women's Day lunch I'm co-hosting; and then it'll be back to the Civic Centre for a special presentation about Prague and the development of our mutual links that Marcela will be giving to invited guests. It's something we've been trying to organise for a long time now, so I'm really pleased it's finally happening.
Then I've been invited to an event organised by the High Sheriff in the evening. And on Thursday I'll be off to Liverpool for work till Sunday.
And that's not to mention my dental appointment tomorrow, my appraisal at work on Thursday, the paid work I've got to do in the coming fortnight, the council committee meeting on Thursday night, the ward-based meetings and visits, letters, emails, phone calls - and little things like shopping, laundry, cooking ...
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Budget setting
In many ways, this is the most significant meeting of the council year - where the budget is set for the period from April to the following March.
We have a pre-meeting at half past six - myself, senior officers and the three group leaders - to make sure there's as much clarity as possible about how the business of the meeting is going to be organised. As the budget consists of five different items on the agenda, which is already quite long, I suggest that as we've done in previous years, we have one debate on all five items together, and only treat them separately when it comes to the votes.
This is agreed - which is just as well, as the budget meeting still lasts till about a quarter to eleven. There's a question from a member of the public, and several councillor's questions, as well as lots of references from committees. Under the council's rules, I have to ask the council at ten o'clock, and again at half past ten, if they want to carry on and complete all the business - which it appears they do.
We have a pre-meeting at half past six - myself, senior officers and the three group leaders - to make sure there's as much clarity as possible about how the business of the meeting is going to be organised. As the budget consists of five different items on the agenda, which is already quite long, I suggest that as we've done in previous years, we have one debate on all five items together, and only treat them separately when it comes to the votes.
This is agreed - which is just as well, as the budget meeting still lasts till about a quarter to eleven. There's a question from a member of the public, and several councillor's questions, as well as lots of references from committees. Under the council's rules, I have to ask the council at ten o'clock, and again at half past ten, if they want to carry on and complete all the business - which it appears they do.
Thursday, 14 February 2008
Special Council meeting
At half past six there's a Special Council meeting to agree which developer the Council is going to choose as its partner to redevelop the north of the Town Centre - a job everyone agrees is very much needed.
This decision has to be taken behind closed doors, because it contains a lot of information that's 'commercially sensitive' - so one of my first duties as Chairman is to read the paragraph of legal gobbledegook which basically means "you have to leave now". We also need to remember not to use our microphones, as they can be heard in the overspill area next door!
We then have a fairly brief meeting - most of the questions councillors want to ask and comments they want to make have already been aired at previous committee meetings - and the Council appoints Stockland Halladale as its 'preferred bidder'.
The regeneration of Town Centre North is now a significant step closer.
This decision has to be taken behind closed doors, because it contains a lot of information that's 'commercially sensitive' - so one of my first duties as Chairman is to read the paragraph of legal gobbledegook which basically means "you have to leave now". We also need to remember not to use our microphones, as they can be heard in the overspill area next door!
We then have a fairly brief meeting - most of the questions councillors want to ask and comments they want to make have already been aired at previous committee meetings - and the Council appoints Stockland Halladale as its 'preferred bidder'.
The regeneration of Town Centre North is now a significant step closer.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Aspirations project
A very positive meeting with the TASCC Team at Brays House about my Aspirations project. Michelle sits on the Safer Harlow Partnership, and has been working on a questionnaire asking young people about their views on anti-social behaviour, but also about a lot more including their aims and ambitions, their views of themselves and of Harlow.
It all sounds very connected to the project I'm doing. Michelle kindly agrees to share the results of that survey with me; and I agree to look at organising some kind of joint event in May where she can share the results of the questionnaire with young people, and I can preview some of the findings of my own project.
Meanwhile, about that youth survey. It's been put together on behalf of the Safer Harlow Partnership by youth worker Chloe Simmons, who is keen to receive as much feedback as possible from Harlow's teenage residents. If you're between 13 and 19 and live in Harlow, you can fill in the questionnaire online - but you'll need to do so soon as it closes on 10 March.
It all sounds very connected to the project I'm doing. Michelle kindly agrees to share the results of that survey with me; and I agree to look at organising some kind of joint event in May where she can share the results of the questionnaire with young people, and I can preview some of the findings of my own project.
Meanwhile, about that youth survey. It's been put together on behalf of the Safer Harlow Partnership by youth worker Chloe Simmons, who is keen to receive as much feedback as possible from Harlow's teenage residents. If you're between 13 and 19 and live in Harlow, you can fill in the questionnaire online - but you'll need to do so soon as it closes on 10 March.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Year of the Rat
Gong Hei Fat Choy - or Happy [Chinese] New Year! It's the Year of the Rat this year, which according to Mr Man means prosperity - all those prolific little rat babies.
Celebrations at the Chinese Centre at Lower Meadow begin with the usual fusillade of firecrackers in the car park, so loud that the sound rebounds from the flats behind the centre. Then there's the traditional lion dance - two lions this year, on fine form, each operated by two young men as they cavort around grooming themselves, stretching their necks to look about, and unnerving the little children. As part of the dance, each lion has to 'eat' a lettuce, spitting out the shredded leaves, for good luck.
After the dance is over, the crowds gather in the Chinese Centre for speeches - in Cantonese and Mandarin - and Chinese music, and the little girls perform a ribbon dance. I'm invited to say a few words, and I take the chance to thank the Chinese community for their hospitality and the way in which they have integrated so positively into the neighbourhood.
After the music and dancing, there's a splendid lunch laid on by our hosts - meat, rice, noodles, spring rolls, vegetables and an array of desserts made with tapioca, sesame and all sort of other ingredients. The sun is shining, everyone is enjoying themselves, and it seems the Year of the Rat has started very well indeed.
Celebrations at the Chinese Centre at Lower Meadow begin with the usual fusillade of firecrackers in the car park, so loud that the sound rebounds from the flats behind the centre. Then there's the traditional lion dance - two lions this year, on fine form, each operated by two young men as they cavort around grooming themselves, stretching their necks to look about, and unnerving the little children. As part of the dance, each lion has to 'eat' a lettuce, spitting out the shredded leaves, for good luck.
After the dance is over, the crowds gather in the Chinese Centre for speeches - in Cantonese and Mandarin - and Chinese music, and the little girls perform a ribbon dance. I'm invited to say a few words, and I take the chance to thank the Chinese community for their hospitality and the way in which they have integrated so positively into the neighbourhood.
After the music and dancing, there's a splendid lunch laid on by our hosts - meat, rice, noodles, spring rolls, vegetables and an array of desserts made with tapioca, sesame and all sort of other ingredients. The sun is shining, everyone is enjoying themselves, and it seems the Year of the Rat has started very well indeed.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Charity dinner
We're collected at six thirty for the journey to Stock, where the Chairman of Basildon Council is holding his charity dinner and dance at the Stock Brook Golf Club. I'm wearing the same dress I wore to the Essex Yeomanry event the other week, but whatever I wore, it still would clash horribly with my unplanned sartorial highlight of the evening - three large bandages on my left hand.
(I managed to scald myself with steam while cooking dinner yesterday, and ended up at Princess Alexandra A&E at ten o'clock at night with my hand cooling in the dog's water bowl - washed, of course. They used some amazing gel on my fingers which soothed them remarkably, and bandaged me up. I had an unexpectedly good night's sleep).
While wandering around with the welcoming glass of Pimms, I end up in conversation with a lady from South Anglia housing, who as well as owning properties in Basildon also do business in Harlow.
We make our way upstairs for dinner; at our table are the Chairman of Tendring and his wife, the Mayor of Thurrock and her husband, a former Chairman of Basildon and his wife, and a couple from Rochford, whom Nick gets on with like a house on fire when they discover a shared interest in dogs.
There's a very large turnout for the event, with Basildon businesses clearly having bought whole tables. The three courses, wine and coffee (fortunately cheese and biscuits has been crossed off the menu) won't help my recently renewed attempts to lose some weight. Still, at least a fellow guest helps me preserve the dignity of my office by preventing me from walking out of the ladies' with the back of my dress caught up in my knickers.
(I managed to scald myself with steam while cooking dinner yesterday, and ended up at Princess Alexandra A&E at ten o'clock at night with my hand cooling in the dog's water bowl - washed, of course. They used some amazing gel on my fingers which soothed them remarkably, and bandaged me up. I had an unexpectedly good night's sleep).
While wandering around with the welcoming glass of Pimms, I end up in conversation with a lady from South Anglia housing, who as well as owning properties in Basildon also do business in Harlow.
We make our way upstairs for dinner; at our table are the Chairman of Tendring and his wife, the Mayor of Thurrock and her husband, a former Chairman of Basildon and his wife, and a couple from Rochford, whom Nick gets on with like a house on fire when they discover a shared interest in dogs.
There's a very large turnout for the event, with Basildon businesses clearly having bought whole tables. The three courses, wine and coffee (fortunately cheese and biscuits has been crossed off the menu) won't help my recently renewed attempts to lose some weight. Still, at least a fellow guest helps me preserve the dignity of my office by preventing me from walking out of the ladies' with the back of my dress caught up in my knickers.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Race for Life
There was an advertisement on television last night for the Cancer Research UK's Race for Life event. As I was walking through the Civic Centre this lunchtime I picked up a flyer for it from the reception counter, and I see one of the race events is in Harlow, in the Town Park on Sunday 18 May at 11 o'clock - and sponsored by Harlow Council too. I'm not sure I'm up to a 5 kilometre jog, but I'll think about it - it sounds a great way to see the Town Park, anyway.
Intimations of mortality
A lunchtime meeting with Lynn today to start making arrangements for an away-day in early March to start pulling together some of the main themes arising from my Raising Aspirations project. It's the first real indication that my project, and indeed my term of office, will be coming to an end soon.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Women's Day plans
Catherine, Caroline and I - chairmen respectively of Uttlesford, Epping Forest and Harlow Councils - have finally managed to get together this afternoon to plan our celebration for International Women's Day. We'll be hosting a lunch in March to celebrate women in public life in West Essex. We've drafted a guest list, decided on timings, and more or less worked out how the event is going to run.
I'm delighted that Marčela, deputy from Prague 15 district, whom we visited in December last year, will be in Harlow while the event is on, so it really will be an 'international' lunch.
I'm delighted that Marčela, deputy from Prague 15 district, whom we visited in December last year, will be in Harlow while the event is on, so it really will be an 'international' lunch.
Filofax frenzy and Fairtrade Fortnight
I don't actually have a filofax - all my information is on my electronic BlackBerry-type gadget - but if I did, it would be having a frenzy today. I've had a while heap of invitations I need to respond to, and my February, March and April really are filling up. I spend some time with my PA Sue today, checking my calendar and deciding which events I can go to and which I can't.
One of the diary emails I receive today contains more information about Fairtrade Fortnight, which starts on 25 February. There'll be a photo exhibition starting on 16 February in the Gibberd Gallery; and of course the Black Gold film at the Playhouse on 26 February. I'll be at both of those - and hope you will too.
One of the diary emails I receive today contains more information about Fairtrade Fortnight, which starts on 25 February. There'll be a photo exhibition starting on 16 February in the Gibberd Gallery; and of course the Black Gold film at the Playhouse on 26 February. I'll be at both of those - and hope you will too.
Chamber of Commerce
I've a meeting with Angela Peppiatt from Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce this morning, to discuss my Raising Aspirations project. We meet in my Chairman's Suite for forty minutes or so, and it's good to hear from someone really enthusiastic about what's happening in Harlow and the difference it can make - the regeneration of the town centre, the Olympics, Harlow Renaissance.
Angela kindly agrees to share information about my project with the businesses with which she is in contact; I hope this will mean the chance to hear from more local employers their thoughts and ideas about how we can help and encourage our children and young people to achieve the very best in life.
Angela kindly agrees to share information about my project with the businesses with which she is in contact; I hope this will mean the chance to hear from more local employers their thoughts and ideas about how we can help and encourage our children and young people to achieve the very best in life.
Friday, 1 February 2008
Pride in Harlow awards evening
There's a run-through at half past six for the Pride in Harlow awards evening. Nick and I arrive a little late (straight from King Du noodle bar), and my co-presenter Tim Humphries from Ten-17 is already there. Microphone: check. Running order: check. Programmes and signing-in sheets: check.
The guests - nominees and people who have nominated them - start arriving, and I spend some time chatting before the event starts; there are plenty of people I know, and some I don't.
We kick off at quarter past seven. Tim does the 'housekeeping' announcements (toilets, refreshments, what happens when), and then I explain the background to the awards. Set up by last year's Chairman, Cllr Greg Peck, to mark Harlow's 60th birthday, these awards recognise people who have gone out of their way to make a difference to our community and make Harlow a place of which we can all be proud.
Each nominee is called up in turn to receive their certificate and have their photograph taken with Tim and myself. Tim reads a few words about why they've been nominated and what they've done for the community.
Then it's time to announce the runners-up, and the winners. Runners-up in the Organisation category are the volunteer drivers for Harlow Community Transport; and the Individual runner-up is Carol Bull, founder of Tegate netball club. The Organisation winner is Harlow & Broxbourne Women's Aid, and the Individual winner is Albert Hobdell of Harlow Neighbourhood Watch.
After the presentations come the group photographs, for the council and for the local press. The larger the group, the longer the process takes, making sure everyone's in the right place, visible, and looking at the camera. Then it's downstairs for a buffet to mingle with the nominees and guests, all of whom say what a great evening it's been. We're so used to reading and hearing negative stories, it's wonderful to have a positive event to promote the many really good things that go on in our town, and the public-spirited people who make them happen.
Congratulations to all those who were also nominated for a Pride in Harlow Award, in addition to the winners and runners-up: Harlow Air Cadets, the Playhouse Ushers, Jon O'Connor, Brenda Taylor, Karen Protheroe, Raymond Spicer, Karen Hansen, Anne Wafula Strike, Kathy Porter, Dr Sue Rogers, Daphne Davidge, Ken Worton, Louise Boittier, and Eamonn Hyde.
The guests - nominees and people who have nominated them - start arriving, and I spend some time chatting before the event starts; there are plenty of people I know, and some I don't.
We kick off at quarter past seven. Tim does the 'housekeeping' announcements (toilets, refreshments, what happens when), and then I explain the background to the awards. Set up by last year's Chairman, Cllr Greg Peck, to mark Harlow's 60th birthday, these awards recognise people who have gone out of their way to make a difference to our community and make Harlow a place of which we can all be proud.
Each nominee is called up in turn to receive their certificate and have their photograph taken with Tim and myself. Tim reads a few words about why they've been nominated and what they've done for the community.
Then it's time to announce the runners-up, and the winners. Runners-up in the Organisation category are the volunteer drivers for Harlow Community Transport; and the Individual runner-up is Carol Bull, founder of Tegate netball club. The Organisation winner is Harlow & Broxbourne Women's Aid, and the Individual winner is Albert Hobdell of Harlow Neighbourhood Watch.
After the presentations come the group photographs, for the council and for the local press. The larger the group, the longer the process takes, making sure everyone's in the right place, visible, and looking at the camera. Then it's downstairs for a buffet to mingle with the nominees and guests, all of whom say what a great evening it's been. We're so used to reading and hearing negative stories, it's wonderful to have a positive event to promote the many really good things that go on in our town, and the public-spirited people who make them happen.
Congratulations to all those who were also nominated for a Pride in Harlow Award, in addition to the winners and runners-up: Harlow Air Cadets, the Playhouse Ushers, Jon O'Connor, Brenda Taylor, Karen Protheroe, Raymond Spicer, Karen Hansen, Anne Wafula Strike, Kathy Porter, Dr Sue Rogers, Daphne Davidge, Ken Worton, Louise Boittier, and Eamonn Hyde.
Firebreak pass out parade
Another group of young people have completed the week-long Firebreak course, and once again I'm invited to the Fire Station for the passing-out parade. There's the usual demonstration of the young people's newly acquired firefighting and teamwork skills, in front of an audience of proud parents, grandparents, friends and relations.
The young people receive their certificates, and then over tea and biscuits there's a chance to chat with them and their families, all of whom are immensely pleased and impressed at what the course has given them.
Well done to the latest Firebreak squad members: Keely, Billy Ray, Gino, Stephanie, Tunay, Robbie, Warren, Samuel, Jack, Ernie, Samantha, Thomas and Hayley.
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