Ossett News Posted November 8, 2020 Report Share Posted November 8, 2020 Week ending Sunday 8th November 2020 This week has been busy and mainly taken up with the preparations for a socially distanced Remembrance Sunday event. The determination and dedication of our local Royal British Legion never fails to amaze me. Starting on Monday morning at 9.00am meeting Malcolm Patterson in the car park behind the old Town Hall to collect and fill our cars with everything needed for a poppy stall. Quickly driving to the Co-op car park and setting up a gazebo and creating a pop-up poppy stall. This I did with Malcolm for 3 days, until lockdown started on Thursday. A big thank you to the new Co-op store Manager Dan, for his help and support. This was duplicated by another team in Ossett, in Morrison’s on Dewsbury Road and in our two local ASDA stores. The weather has been good to the poppy sellers this year, not too cold, although often damp. On Saturday morning a team of helpers met, in Horbury’s Memorial Park, (all wearing masks and steamed up glasses!) To create the Horbury Memorial Poppy Display. This unique creation is made of some 300-ish plastic poppies cut from the lids and bases of Celebration sweet tins, with the occasional purple tin, to commemorate the animals that gave their lives during the two wars. The display was created by a small team including Pat Goodall, Susan Andrews, Esme & Felix Randall, Peter Davis, Anne & Malcolm Hudson and my good self. The original idea of collecting tubs and cutting out the poppies was not my idea; see my original sketch for how I imagined it would look. I think it actually looks better! The Remembrance Service has been a great success. A much shorter than usual service with only those with a wreath to lay, in attendance. . The service was led by Fr Christopher from St Peter & St Leonard’s Church with the Queen’s representative, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, our MP and others in attendance. Members of the public were respectfully asked to stand either outside Memorial Park on Westfield Road or at the top end of the park. Everyone was impressed by the organisation and service, a fitting tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice from Horbury & the surrounding areas. The Ossett service was also greatly appreciated & very well received. I am also told that in Ossett Spa standing next to the poppy emblazoned ‘Welcome to Horbury’ sign, we had a Scottish Piper who played a lament after the 2-minute silence. The poppy display will be left in Memorial Park until late next week and will then be removed and stored for next year – fingers crossed. I hope you have been able to see the artwork in the old shelter in Carr Lodge Park? This wonderful creation compliments the two other pieces of artwork and shows how wonderfully creative and respectful the residents of Horbury are! The Friends of Horbury’s Parks at their last meeting agreed to commission another piece of artwork for the remaining empty side of the shelter. Watch this space for more information. On Friday morning a volunteer was seen planting some of our spring bulbs in the flower bed facing Bar Biccari on Highfield Road corner. Thank you to everyone who has helped plant over 5,500 daffodil and crocus bulbs. Next spring should see some real seasonal colour. It must be nearly Christmas, as the Council have installed our usual Christmas Tree on this busy junction. This compliments the ones across Horbury & Ossett. I would like to put together a grant next year to buy and plant 5 rooted Christmas Trees. These could be planted in Illingworth Park, Sowood Play area, Sowood Bends area, the grassed area on Teall Street and Haggs Hill corner area and one in Horbury Junction. I’ll keep you posted. Please don’t forget to visit the Horbury Christmas Windows Facebook page for all the details of this great Horbury idea. A location map of the windows will be created soon, and you will be able to vote on the best window in your opinion. This competition is open to businesses & homeowners – so you never know, your front window could be the winner. Staying on the subject of Christmas – calling all children. Next week, I will be starting my Draw me a Christmas Tree competition. Open to all the children across Horbury & South Ossett. It’s simple to enter, just draw me a picture of a Christmas Tree and decorate it as you see fit. Take a picture and sent me a Private Message to my Facebook page. The first twenty entries will win an Advent Calendar, which you will be able to collect from a local Horbury shop. More details on my Facebook page later this week. Earlier this week I submitted a grant application to the Council to but 15 new rubbish bins. If the grant is successful the bins will be installed in the following areas - Fairfield Road, close to the school, Horbury to Ossett Spa on Hall Cliffe Road, Carr Lodge Park, Reid Park, Horbury Junction, one by the subway on the by-pass, Illingworth Park and a couple of spares. If the grant is supported by the other two Horbury & South Ossett Councillors, the bins should be in place early in the New Year. On Wednesday I joined one of Wakefield Council’s Highways Team to discuss and get an update on the many issues you as residents have raised with me about traffic problems. Many of these issues will take a lot of resolving and in many instances will need the Police to be involved as they deal with all moving traffic on the roads. I will keep you updated. On Monday next week, I will be on BBC Radio Leeds at 7:30am, to talk about the Council’s latest campaign to offer real support to our residents, with hints, tips and help in planning for Christmas, managing their money better to spread the cost, so as not to fall into the debt trap. More information can be found on the Council’s Facebook page – Wakefield Support. Over the past few months I have made reference to the creation of the Office of an Elected Mayor for West Yorkshire also known as West Yorkshire Devolution. Government plans are now progressing and next May, COVID permitting, you will be asked to vote for and elect West Yorkshire’s first ever Mayor. I am sure over the next few weeks, those who would like you to vote for them, will be creating web pages, Facebook pages and probably writing to you – asking for your support. If you Google – West Yorkshire Elected Mayor, you will be able to find more about the role of the Mayor and how they will operate. Please keep safe and take care in these difficult times and if you need help, give me a shout – contact details above! Darren View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts