Current Mayor's Blog 10/11
Friday, 27 August 2010
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Norton Grange Community Fun Day
Today Marjorie and I attended the Norton Grange Community Fun Day.
When we arrived at the Centre there were quite a few children and adults
already on the field enjoying themselves. This fun day was very much
in the same style as the Low Grange Community Centre fun day that we
attended last week.
There were the same support stalls in the marquee, as the needs of Norton
Grange are very much the same as the Low Grange area of Billingham.
It was my job to welcome everyone to the Centre and then start the
five-a-side football game, which was slightly complicated as they had given
me the referee's whistle, so after starting the game it was a quick run
across the field to return the whistle.
It was then announced that there was a Thai cooking demonstration taking
place in the Centre which we went to see. The Thai lady was very good
and showed us what they use in the dishes in Thailand and what local
vegetables etc we could use. We tried the noodles and also the Thai
curry, which I must say were delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed them.
An added bonus was a young mother let Marjorie and I hold her 3 month
old baby boy.
The youth bus was on site so we met the instructors we had seen at other
events. I showed one young lad how to get on the Stockton Website and
then onto the Mayor's Blog. The instructors said they often use it to
see what Marjorie and I have been doing.
I had a try in the baseball net to see if I was any good at baseball - the
answer is I was rubbish and only hit one ball. We had a talk to the
Naval Officers as they now have a base on Norton Grange to give the young
people an insight into working as a team and what naval manoeuvres are. We
will be invited to the official opening of the base at a later date.
It was then into the marquee to see the support stalls and the tombola for
Butterwick Hospice
The weather had improved with the sun shining as we said our goodbyes and
left the centre.
Help for Heroes Charity Evening
This evening Majorie and I attended a charity event in aid of the Help for
Heroes charity at the Swan Hotel in Billingham.
We were met in the Ballroom of the Swan Hotel by Ann Harris who had
organised the evening and the place was packed with families, ex-
Servicemen and supporters.
The formal part of the evening started with four buglers from the Rifles
playing bugle music to recorded music - they were very good. The
Standard Bearers brought on the standards to stand with the buglers, and it
was my time for a speech. I was able to let people know about
Stockton Council's support for the Armed Forces with our Freedom of the
Borough days.
Marjorie and I drew the raffle and we actually won a prize. The
supporting act was an Elvis Presley impersonator who was very good.
We had time to talk to people at their tables before the
entertainment started. It was soon dancing time and I was selected by
a couple of the ladies to dance with them, which I enjoyed as Elvis was in
my era.
We said our cheerios and left for home after a very good evening.
