Since my last weekly review, I’ve attended a couple of events that recognised the impact two people have had on the lives of residents in Trafford and beyond.  Last Saturday evening it was a pleasure to join colleagues at a 90^th Birthday Party for Honorary Alderman and former Clifford Ward councillor Whit Stennett.  There were so many people at the event to wish Whit well and some lovely speeches from politicians from different parties, friends and family.  I think I counted five of my predecessors in the room that evening which goes to show the impact Whit had during his time as a councillor.  He continues to contribute to the community today and it is a great pleasure to know him.

On Friday of this week I attended a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Tony Lloyd at Manchester Cathedral.  Tony was someone who dedicated his life to the people he served- a former Trafford councillor, Member of Parliament for Stretford and Greater Manchester Police and crime Commissioner- and that’s just part of his political CV.  His wisdom and kindness came across in all of the contributions made during the service, as did his love for and dedication to his family.  I first got to know Tony in the late 1990s and he was always very kind and supportive of me.  It was a privilege to know him and it continues to be a privilege to know his family.

Remembrance played an important part in another significant event this week, where Trafford Council hosted a 2025 Holocaust Memorial Service in Sale.  This remains a very important event in our civic calendar.  This year we heard from the son of a mother who managed to escape Nazi Germany for safety in the United Kingdom, having survived cruel acts of oppression.  We also heard contemporary accounts of students who had come through adversity and now consider Trafford their home.  The theme of this year’s service was ‘For a better Future’ and my closing words were that in tribute to the millions who have died as a result of genocide, we must be witnesses and we must help those people in need.  If we do that, then we can all enjoy a better future.

I attended some Greater Manchester meetings this week too.  On Wednesday I travelled into the city centre for a meeting of the GM Waste & Recycling Committee where, amongst other things, we discussed promoting the circular economy- i.e. reduce, reuse, repair, recycle.  It’s clear we’ve come a long way with that agenda, with ambitions to do much more.  On Thursday I chaired a meeting of the Green City-Region Partnership Board, which you can read more about here. I also chaired a meeting of Trafford and Salford colleagues as we look at opportunities for investment, employment, housing and leisure along our shared boundary.

Other highlights of my week included attending a school governors meeting at Victoria Park Junior School, chairing a meeting of Trafford’s Locality Board, hosting a thank you meeting for the outgoing Chair of Trafford Leisure, and attending the launch party for ‘Little Faces, Big Feelings’- the new exhibition at Waterside Arts Centre that sheds light on the social and emotional challenges faced by children during lockdowns and thereafter.

Finally, I had the opportunity to welcome a couple of relatives to the Town Hall who I had not seen since at least 2010.  It was lovely to catch up with them and show them around the building.  When we last met I was an opposition councillor and it was around the start of the Tory/LibDem Government.  A lot has changed both locally and nationally since then…