The first few weeks of the new year have been white, we are not in the habit of seeing so much snow and it has caught us out.  I do hope you have been taking time to look after your elderly and vulnerable neighbours.  Do not fret though as Spring is just around the corner!

I would like to use this opportunity to say how both the Mayoress and I have been extremely pleased with the close relationships we have formed with the fellow Civic leaders of North Warwickshire and Hinckley.  We have all worked very well together and while not wanting to bring politics into the issue, we have done so while all being of different political persuasions.  I am sure we will carry on our friendships long after our respective Mayoral years have come to an end.

Can I also take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported my charity appeal up to now?  I have been overwhelmed by the response.  We are living in difficult economic times which affect us all so words fail me when trying to express the gratitude I have for everyone who has contributed to the appeal.  I have raised in excess of £10,000 and there is still the main thrust of the appeal yet to come.

I was joined on the trip by Deputy Leader of the Council, Nick Grant, and the Chief Executive, Christine Kerr.  We had been invited by the Mayor of Roanne to join in the celebrations for the 50 years of twinning with Reutlingen in Germany.  I met with dignitaries from many nations, from the likes of Poland, Italy, Spain and Romania, and it was a great opportunity to develop a greater understanding of other countries.

The first night began with a remarkable party involving a typical French meal.  It was my first experience of eating snails!  There was much merriment and I was very fortunate to be sat with two dynamic ladies in the Mayor of Legnica (Poland) and the Mayor of Montevarchi (Italy).  Excellent company, excellent food and an excellent evening.

On the Saturday it was a full timetable following a continental breakfast, starting at the local community centre where we met with a German man and his French wife who had met during the early days of twinning.  There was plenty of entertainment before we signed an anniversary book.  As we left the centre, we were greeted by the entire Roanne community who were involved in a glorious fanfare.

As part of the celebrations there was a lantern parade, abseiling, the flying of flags and vintage cars on display.  From there we went to the Town Hall where we sat in a grand dining hall dating back to the 1860s for a light meal and entertainment, culminating in the lighting of candles on a birthday cake.

Our flights home were not until the Sunday evening so it gave us plenty of time to sample some of the local delights, including wine tasting and a spot of sight seeing, on our final day in Roanne.  I was grateful to be a part of this momentous visit and it will be something I remember for many, many years.

I recall celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the link between our two towns and was actually a part of the 50-year celebration, it has been a link with Europe that I have always supported.  I have strong ties to other European countries as the Mayoress is Danish and our son Kenneth is married to a Pole and I have Polish grandchildren.

The forthcoming trip is to celebrate Roanne’s 50-year twinning with Reutlingen in Germany so it will be interesting for me to see first hand our ‘French connection.’  I will be joined on the trip by Christine Kerr, the Chief Exceutive of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, along with Councillor Nick Grant, Deputy Leader of the Council.  It is very much a goodwill exercise with very little time to see the sights.

The Mayoress and I attended the Nuneaton Dog Training Club on Saturday at Old Hinckley Road.  What a lot of fun we had and it is remarkable how much is going on there – it was simply amazing to see all the owners wanting the best from their dogs.  It truly is a well organized set up if ever there was one.  The dog owners come to the club from miles around and it is great to know that such activities are going on in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth.

It really was a busy week last week, with plenty of AGMs to attend where I met some wonderful people who all play a pivotal role in the local community, be it fund-raising or caring for others through voluntary work.

One of the highlights of the week for pure entertainment was a performance of Adam Bede by the KEG Players at the Bedworth Arts Centre.  It was quite beautiful to see them so comfortable on the stage, with some superb acting (the closing scene with Hetty and Dinah was soul-searching, very emotional).  The packed house loved every minute of the show.  Well done KEG, my best wishes for all of your futures.

Speak to you all soon!

Considering it is October, we were blessed with some wonderful weather and the sun certainly lifted spirits, as did the performance from the talented young people who showcased some breathtaking dance routines.  I had invited the group to perform in the town having met them several months previously.  Knowing they were sure to entertain, I invited along several other Civic leaders, including the High Sheriff of Warwickshire Lady Kilmaine.

It was a great turnout in the town centre and following the performance the invited guests were taken on a tour of the Town Hall, including the Chamber and my Parlour.  The dance group were particularly keen to hear about the Mace and the other silvers in the collection. I was not the only Civic leader on the day to pass comments about how successful the day had been.

On Monday, I attended the AGM of CAVA (Community and Voluntary Action) chaired by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire.  This was well attended and the Weddington St Nicolas Neighbourhood Watch (of which I am apart of) received a well deserved award.  The role of voluntary bodies is going to be vital in modern Britain.

I attended another AGM this week, namely the Heart of England Foundation (not to be confused with the Heart of England Co-op).  Many organisations would be poorer without the help of the Foundation and it was a good chance to meet with some of the key players.

I welcomed the St Nicolas Ladies Club into the Parlour last night for a talk on the silver collection.  This group meet every second and third Wednesday of the month St Nicolas School and always welcome new members.  I would certainly encourage anyone interested in joining to pop in and say hello to the ladies.

Last night I was treated to a musical performance I will remember for a very long time.  The Heart of England Autumn Concert is an event attended regularly by Mayors of the Borough and I was thrilled to listen to a wide variety of music performed at such a pleasant venue.  The Central Hall in Coventry is an ideal setting for such a concert and the performances by the Rugby Male Choir and Co-op Orchestra were wonderful.  I met plenty of interesting people and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

This morning I had a chance to personally thank pupils from Queens Junior School in Nuneaton who had sang at my recent Civic Service.  I was kindly invited to take Assembly at the school and it was nice to be able to return the favour.  My Civic Service was all the better for the performance by the school pupils.

From there I was lucky enough to see first hand the regeneration of a former derelict, but important, plot of land that sits between Nuneaton and Bedworth.  Some £4m has been spent on revitalising the land where the old Wilkinsons and then Lynx factory once stood.  I was delighted to see a big firm from abroad not only choosing to come to the UK, but choosing to set up base in Nuneaton and Bedworth.  This is a big boost for the area and it was also pleasing to hear that some local people had been successful in their applications for jobs at the new venture.

I look forward to a social evening in Bedworth tonight and a charity fundraiser tomorrow so I will speak to you again soon to let you know how things went.  Be good.

I am extremely excited about being the Borough’s first ever Mayor to have a blog and I hope to keep you updated on most, if not all, of my civic engagements.

Firstly, may I give you notice of the forthcoming Civic Saturday, taking place this weekend with many dignitaries in Nuneaton town centre. The High Sheriff, Lady Kilmaine, will be there along with other civic heads supporting “Crime Beat,” Lady Kilmaine’s chosen charity.

The town will be full of activities including bands and dance displays so come along and get involved in the fun attractions in your town.

Looking ahead, we are well underway in making plans for Christmas in both Nuneaton and Bedworth and a wide range of merriment is planned for our towns, including the lights switch on and much, much more. It is our wish to make 2009 a very special festive season and I would again encourage you to take part.

Keep reading my blog, as well as the local press, to find out more about all that is going on.