16th After a visit to the dentist for a check up I, together with my wife, met up with Cllr Mrs Riddle at Foxy’s Restaurant, Brunton Park, to discuss the arrangements for the Burns Night Supper, which will be held on the 27th in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Fund.
17th The Mayoress and I, together with Cllr Whalen and the City Solicitor, Stephen Brown, met Mr Chris Nicholls, the franchisee of McDonalds to discuss the improvements to Rosemary Lane, Scotch Street. Following on from this meeting we hosted a Civic Reception and Buffet for 22 Students and 2 Teachers from Flensburg, with which we, the City, are twinned. The students are here in Carlisle on placements with local businesses, schools or with the City Council. They had a tour of the Civic Suite and a photo-shoot by the local press.
18th Today we met up with Cllr Paul Nedved and David, the conductor of the Abbey Singers, at Warwick Hall, Warwick Bridge. Paul has organised a concert at Warwick Hall, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Nick Marriner, in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Fund to be held on the 18th February, and arrangements needed to be made. In the evening the Mayoress and I attended a dinner and presentation of Certificates for long service to volunteers of the local branch of Oxfam, at Casa Romana Restaurant, Warwick Road, Carlisle. I followed this with a meeting of Trustees of the Hartley Trust of which I am a member, the Trust being responsible for the Playing Field and children’s Play Area in Scotby.
20th The morning passed all too quickly as I tidied my office and wrote two speeches for forthcoming events. Then a quick dash to the Civic Centre, with the Mayoress, for 1.30 p.m. to meet and greet two Junior Schools – Rockcliffe and Crosby-on-Eden 55 children plus teaching staff. We took them on a tour of the Civic Suite for an hour and answered questions in The Chamber before they were served fruit juice and biscuits prior to their departure at 2.50 p.m. The next engagement commenced at 7.30 p.m. in the Sea Cadets Headquarters, Nicholson Street, Carlisle where the Mayoress and I attended the T. S. Cumberland Presentation Evening when the Cadets received trophies for their individual achievements this year. I, accompanied by the Commanding Officer, took the General Salute before inspecting the Guard. This reminded me of my days in the Royal Army Medical Corps. On closure of the ceremony I presented the trophies and certificates and then toured the unit. The cadets should feel justifiably proud of their success as the standard was so high. I also had the pleasure of meeting a former serving shipmate of HMS Cumberland that was decommissioned last year. It was most interesting to hear the history of the Frigate built in 1989 by Yarrells on the Clyde. Pictures of the ship are to be found in the Civic Centre.
22nd Sunday, and our daughter’s 51st birthday. The Mayoress and I attended the Third Sunday of Epiphany Cathedral Eucharist Service. The preacher was the Venerable Kevin Roberts and his sermon drew comparison with the television programme “The Secret Millionaire”. At the end of the service we listened to a rare announcement as Canon McConnell called, for the first time, the banns of marriage for his son and fiancee. This has only been read in the Cathedral 12 times since 1902 and as Cannon McConnell said the book will last till the next Millennia!!