GREAT things

Matthew Lay’s final borough councillor message

IAM GREAT FAN of karaoke, I love it. A great song which is a Karaoke favourite is the Frank Sinatra classic ‘My Way’ and as I write what is in all likelihood my last article for the Herald magazine as your local Borough Councillor, the song feels somewhat apt.

I do hope to pen a few general interest articles if allowed, but finishing on the Borough Council also means ending a run of monthly contributions to this great magazine that stretches back the whole 28 years. Call me old fashioned but the printed local press is a far better medium than the online variations some of which seem to revel in sowing division.

In the song ‘My way’ the writer (it wasn’t Frank Sinatra, he just sang it, but a man called Paul Anka) is looking back on a journey well-travelled – yes he took the blows along the way and dealt with moments of doubt, errors, at time he took on more than he could chew, but he persevered, he had moments of great satisfaction, achieved things on his own terms, stuck to his personal beliefs and didn’t sell them out, he accomplished something and was content with that. Yes he had regrets (who doesn’t) but they didn’t weight too heavy on him.

Working together

The song in part sums up my own feelings as I step away from being a Councillor. It has taken up a huge part of my adult life as I was elected when still aged 23. In that time, I have been blessed to have been married and have two sons of whom I am immensely proud. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but during those 28 years I have been so fortunate to have worked with some really good people and by working together we have I believe, made our community a better place. It is easy sometimes to take things for granted and imagine things dropped out of the sky, so it can be helpful to remember the journey we have been on, so we do not lose our way and start to go backwards which is possible.

Community asset

We now have three fantastic public open spaces in Hill Hole, Billa Barra and Blacksmith’s Field which 28 years ago we did not, as these were all privately owned.

These are enjoyed by countless people every day. We had a smaller (still impressive) Community Centre in Markfield and in Stanton the Village Hall was the old ‘youth club’ at the top of the village. The Centre at Markfield has recently had a few struggles, but it has for most of my time been a central part of the local community and has in the past thrived, receiving praise from afar and playing its part as a community asset in which large amounts of investment and hard work have been poured. The Centre at Markfield will thrive again and needs talking up, not talking down as some seem so keen to do. The Centre of course sits next to the Community Park which has itself proven a great success and is enjoyed by all with some excellent facilities. The Community Park would not have happened without a vision for something better, a vision for a community resource we can be proud of and a belief that working together the money for it would be found, by hook or by crook.

Vision needed

At Stanton the new Village Hall was a big improvement on the old Youth Club building (which had served the village well) and is today a fantastic community building which reflects the positive ambition of the local community. It needed people to work together to make it happen and it needed a vision for something better than was had before. As did the now Community Library at Markfield. This facility could have so easily been lost but the Community worked together to ensure it survived the decade of austerity which we seem never to have escaped from. It is today thriving and has a bright future ahead. days of the Covid epidemic and the ‘Warm Spaces’ provided for people in Markfield and Stanton this past winter as we faced into the cost-ofliving crisis.

Guided by doing good

Despite the naysayers and the unhelpful who are quick to take to social media to knock things down, we have in Markfield and Stanton always found those willing to build things up, to have a positive vision for the place we live in. Willing to face down critics, willing to be guided by doing good and prepared if necessary to go out on a limb for a righteous cause. The real tragedy is if we lose that spirit and decide it’s just not worth it - and in doing so, give in to the constant moaning by a vocal but small minority. I hope that’s not going to happen and believe we have enough about us to ensure it doesn’t.

Fabulous things

When our communities work together and have ambitions to step forward, to stand tall, to put down the perpetual moaners, we can achieve great things and in doing so build on past achievements that make us all stronger. Even in my last few years I have witnessed some fabulous things happening in and around our community. Just look at the Litter Wombles who are constantly going out volunteering to collect litter and keeping our communities clean. Look at the efforts of those involved in driving the defibrillator project which has delivered a number of defibrillators strategically located around the place, designed to save lives. Look at the success of the Good Neighbour Scheme which was a shining light during the dark

It’s been a privilege to have worked over the past 28 years for our communities. This is my final curtain, and as I take my bow from public office, I hand over the baton to others. In reality these things are team efforts and when it comes to Markfield and Stanton we need to be playing on the same field and for the same side. We need to aspire to be the best and have the best. It’s not always going to be possible but if we don’t try it certainly will not.

I wish all readers the very best for the future and most of all I wish our communities the very best as we face into the future.

Let’s keep moving forward together to a brighter and better tomorrow. Thank you.

Matthew

South Charnwood High School

Human Resources and Office Manager

37 hours per week, over 41 weeks per year

(Term-time plus 15 out of term-time days)

Grade: 9 - Actual salary £24,947 to £27,536 per annum (Pay Award Pending)

An excellent and experienced administrator and communicator is required as soon as possible, to lead our Administration Team on a day to day basis, as well as to provide high quality HR support to the Business Manager and the academy as a whole. If you feel you could excel in this role and have team leader and HR or payroll experience, we would love to hear from you.

We can offer you the chance to work with a fantastic team of colleagues with a strong, supportive staff development ethos. You are very welcome to visit us prior to application. Please call to agree a suitable date and time to look around the school and meet our staff and pupils.

Please see the school website at www.southcharnwood.leics.sch. uk for an information pack and application form. Alternatively, telephone 01530 242351 or email: hcarnan@southcharnwood.org

As this job is designated as a ‘regulated activity’ an enhanced DBS check with Barred list check is essential.

Closing date for applications: 9.00am, Wednesday 26th April 2023