The final Mayor's Blog from Judith Driver
Thursday 3rd April – Ladies Fundraiser and Welcome to Bishop of Burnley to the Parish of Musbury
I started the month attending a Ladies Fundraiser with the Mayoress of Chorley. Accompanied by Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Michelle Smith, we visited Astley Hall for an afternoon tea and guided tour - definitely well worth a visit to the grounds and hall. Next visit for the day was with Cllr. Danielle Ashworth where I welcomed the Bishop of Burnley to the Parish of Musbury at the St. Thomas Church in Helmshore.
Friday 4th April – Mayor’s Ball at Blackburn Cathedral
Myself and my Consort, Ian, attended the Mayor of Blackburn’s Ball. A Brass band and singers supplied the evening’s entertainment all in aid of the mayors’ charities.
Saturday 5th April – Cancer Research UK Fundraiser and Whitworth’s Town Mayor’s Charity
Alongside Caitlin Chippendale, I spent the day at the Central Methodist Church in support of the Cancer Research UK summer fayre, raising money for a fantastic cause. That night, I visited The Ashcroft for a screening of “Grease - The Movie” in aid of Whitworth’s Town Mayors’ charity funds, unfortunately neither myself or Cllr Michelle Smith wore any flared trousers or dresses of the era!
Sunday 6th April – Bury Transport Museum and IDL Club, Haslingden
Sunday started with a trip to Bury Transport Museum with Mrs. Jane Pallister. We’d been invited to the unveiling of the Veterans Memorial Plaque by Coronation Street actor and Patron, Anthony Cotton. The plaque is in memory of 117 men from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Carriage & Wagon Depot who lost their lives in the First World. Next stop of the day was a charity event at the IDL Club in Haslingden in aid of the Stacksteads Park Group. Entertainment from an Elvis tribute act and Irish Dancers, along with Pie and Peas.
Wednesday 9th April – Haworth Art Gallery
Myself and Ian stopped by the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington for an afternoon tea with the Mayor of Hyndburn. What a stunning venue. The history of the building, its owners, and the collection of Tiffany Glass (the largest in Europe) is breathtaking.
Thursday 10th April – Charity Bingo at The Rose and Bowl
In aid of the Whitworth and Kandel Twin Town funds, I attended a bingo event at The Rose and Bowl. Hosted by Mrs. Jane Pallister, prizes were both English and German to reflect both towns to the winners, and some how, my Consort Ian managed to call house twice!
Friday 11th April – Honorary Townsman of Whitworth
Accompanied by Caitlin Chippendale, today I went to The Ashcroft to celebrate Mr. Arnold Ashworth, BEM, becoming an Honorary Townsman of Whitworth, a well-deserved recipient.
Saturday 12th April – Wreath Laying at the IDL Club, Haslingden and Danceworks Performance
Saturday was a full day of activities. It started with wreath laying at the IDL Club in Haslingden to commemorate the life of Michael Davitt and his connections with the town. I then travelled to my second event of the day at Burnley Mechanics Hall for the annual performance of Dansworks Academy. What an absolute privilege to watch the member’s dance routines, what a gifted and talented set of people, of all ages we have in the Valley.
Tuesday 15th April – Charity Drop Without Chains
A charity drop without chains was the order of the day. Myself and my Consort Ian were out and about the valley with items from our own charity event held in March, kindly re-donated to worthy causes. The first, a chocolate hamper originally supplied by Tesco Haslingden, given back by Mr. Ed McMahon and Cllr. Annie McMahon, at their request, was given to the M3 Project, and a Gluten Free Hamper, originally supplied by ourselves, given back by Mr. Sean Serridge, was given to Whitworth Food Bank. Both were greatly received.
Wednesday 16th April – Blackburn Civic Tour
Ian and I attended Blackburn Civic Tour along with other mayors of Lancashire, now christened ‘The Chain Gang 2024/25’. The day started at The Wellbeing Farm in Edgworth, a wedding and corporate event venue with sustainability in mind – Llamas, Alpacas and even a donkey! From there, we travelled on a 1968 double decker bus to The Heritage Centre in Darwen where the curators informed us of the history of parts of the town and its memorabilia. A short trip on the bus to Blackburn Cathedral followed for lunch and a guided tour by The Dean, The Right Revd. Peter Howell-Jones, informing us of the building’s history and artefacts from the Saxon and 12th century. We finished the afternoon off with a visit to Witton Park and the fun fair for Easter weekend – it must have been quite the sight for visitors to see all the mayors, in chains, on the bumper cars! A fun end to a wonderful day.
Thursday 17th April – 60’s Evening at St. Gerard’s Parochial Centre
St. Gerard’s Parochial Centre in Lostock was our next event, alongside the Mayor and Mayoress of South Ribble, for a 60’s themed evening with a Hot Pot supper. Peter and Margaret were brilliant hosts and great company – all in aid of more charitable causes. A fantastic night with great music, food and conversation.
Saturday 19th April – Easter Egg Hunt at Whittaker Park
Easter Saturday saw me attend the Egg Hunt with Friends of Whittaker Park. Over 100 eggs, kindly donated by local businesses, were given out to children of the valley in the lovely park surroundings. What a superbly organised event and a real joy to see so many happy families enjoying themselves outdoors.
Tuesday 22nd April – Ribble Valley Tour
Another tour out of Rossendale took us to the Ribble Valley, starting at Thwaites Brewery. Ian and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the brewing process and were in awe of the magnificent dray horses – truly formidable in their beauty. A short journey took us across the area to the BAE Academy at Samlesbury, where we enjoyed coffee while being informed about the cutting-edge technology and apprentice facilities – an impressive showcase of Lancashire’s innovation. After a lovely lunch at the Black Bull in Old Langho, we travelled to Mrs Dowsons Farm and Park. A guided tour of their sustainable play facilities and farm ended with a delicious ice cream tasting session. A brilliant family-friendly venue and well worth a visit – we even got to bottle-feed a lamb!
Thursday 24th April – Final Charity Fundraiser at The Grand Royal, Waterfoot
This evening marked my final charity fundraiser of the mayoral year, held at The Grand Royal in Waterfoot. 51 guests joined us for a two-course meal, a raffle and the ever-popular “Guess the Royal” game. It was a joyous evening filled with warmth and generosity, raising £425 for my chosen charities. This brings the total raised during my term to an amazing £8,000 – a true testament to the people of Rossendale and their incredible support throughout the year.
Friday 25th April – Friends of Bocholt at The Station Pub, Helmshore
Although not an official duty, Ian and I were kindly invited to an informal get-together at The Station Pub in Helmshore, hosted by the Friends of Bocholt. We were looking forward to a relaxed evening, especially as the contact was Leoni, a committee member for The White Horse Project – one of my chosen charities. What a surprise it was to discover that a delegation from Bocholt had travelled over, including Andreas, whom we met back in June during one of our first mayoral events. We will be seeing him again very soon at Bocholt’s 80 years of Peace and Freedom celebration on May 8th. A truly heartwarming and unexpected reunion.
Saturday 26th April – 80’s Disco Fundraiser, Clitheroe
Ian and I donned our dancing shoes for an 80’s Disco themed charity night hosted by the Mayor and Consort of Clitheroe, Donna and Simon. The venue was full of colour, laughter and brilliant throwback outfits. A wonderful evening of Pie and Peas, music, and community spirit – everyone embraced the era with gusto!
Sunday 27th April – Stubbylee Park, Scouts St. George’s Day Celebrations
We joined a fantastic turnout at Stubbylee Park for the Scouts St. George’s Day Celebrations, accompanied by Andy MacNae MP and the vibrant Stacksteads Band. It was inspiring to see so many young people and scout leaders coming together to honour their traditions and community. The energy and pride in the park were truly uplifting.
Monday 28th April – Launch of Rossendale Valley Energy at Interfloor, Haslingden
My final official event of April took place at Interfloor in Haslingden for the launch of Rossendale Valley Energy. This exciting initiative offers businesses and residents the chance to invest in community-owned solar energy. A forward-thinking project with sustainability at its core – it’s encouraging to see the valley making strides towards a greener future.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say what a privilege it has been for Ian and me to serve as Mayor and Consort of Rossendale over the past 12 months. We’ve attended 122 events, met hundreds of incredible people from all walks of life, and made lasting friendships with fellow Mayors and Consorts across Lancashire. Thanks to the fantastic support of our mayoral committee and the generosity of the public, we raised funds for 10 charities—far more than our original four. We’re so grateful to everyone who attended, donated, or supported our events in any way. A special thank you to our attendants, Darren and Phil, for always getting us where we needed to be, the mayoral office staff, the friends who stepped in when Ian couldn’t attend, and of course, to Ian himself for being such a brilliant Consort throughout the year.
Thank you all—it’s truly been an honour.
If you’d like the next Mayor to attend your event, simply fill out the form on the Council’s website. The Mayor is always happy to attend where possible. For any enquiries, you can contact the Mayor’s office at: stephaniecarroll@rossendalebc.gov.uk