W L
THE MAYOR ' S MONTHLY
by The Mayor of Wirral , Jeff Green
Hello ! Winter definitely arrived with a bang this month , but the mayoress , Carol , and I have enjoyed the warmest of welcomes at dozens of events up and down the peninsula , despite the ‘ bleak mid-winter ’ weather .
The festive season got off to a busy start on 1st December with a visit to the Tesco store in Bidston , where I met their Christmas foodbank organisers and volunteers . The group does amazing work throughout the year , but I know they make a huge effort in the run up to Christmas , providing extra food and toys for local children , families and residents who are in need . They , and all the shoppers who give so generously to their appeal , really deserve our support and appreciation .
Later that afternoon I joined other civic and community leaders for the World AIDS Day vigil at Liverpool Parish Church , where it was good to hear about the progress being made to eradicate the virus and remember all those who were lost or who are still living with its impact .
It was then over to St Catherine ’ s Health Centre in Birkenhead , where I had the privilege of switching on their Christmas lights and enjoyed carols by the choir of Caldy Grammar School while viewing an exhibition of artwork by their very talented pupils .
A very busy day was rounded off with a visit to Birkenhead Youth Club to present awards to some of the club ’ s young achievers and staff .
Christmas trees played a major role over the next couple of days , starting with the wonderful ‘ Decorating in December ’ event at Ronald McDonald House at Arrowe Park Hospital before attending ever popular Christmas Tree Festivals at St Hildeburgh ’ s Church in Hoylake and St Barnabus Church in Bromborough , where dozens of trees had been sponsored and decorated magnificently by local businesses and organisations .
Laver of Birkenhead . Corporal Laver was a young man when he took part in Operation Frankton - one of the most daring missions of World War II - and is now immortalised as one of the ‘ Cockleshell Heroes ’. If you don ’ t know his incredible story , I would definitely recommend looking it up , and perhaps paying a visit to the Operation Frankton Memorial , next to Woodside Ferry Terminal .
Later that evening I attended a special concert by the Port Sunlight Orchestra to celebrate the centenary of the opening of the Lady Lever Art Gallery . We are so lucky to have this beautiful gallery and its magnificent collections here in Wirral and I wish them well for the next 100 years .
The next few days saw a varied mix of events , which included Council meetings , welcoming our newest residents at a Citizenship Ceremony and a fantastic community carol service at St James ’ Church in Birkenhead .
The Mayor ’ s Christmas Tea Dance returned on 7th December after a two year break due to the pandemic . Around 170 guests danced the afternoon away and enjoyed cakes and sandwiches courtesy of the catering students at Wirral Met College and our friends at Cadbury in Moreton . The afternoon raised a fantastic sum for the Mayor ’ s Charity Appeal and I am so grateful to the many organisations and individuals who donated their time or products to make it all possible , not least the many Council staff for sponsoring places for lots of older people to attend .
The festivities continued to dominate our engagements for the rest of the month , with highlights including , Birkenhead Choral Society ’ s Christmas Concert at St Saviour ’ s Church in Oxton and a traditional Polish Christmas celebration at Wirral Change , which was filmed by Polish language channel WYSPA TV .
Cllr . Jeff Green , Mayor of Wirral
On 4th December I had the honour of taking part in a service to remember one of Wirral ’ s great wartime heroes , Corporal Albert
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