Mayor COUNCILLOR COLIN PATTISON
Words from the Mayor Hello Everyone,
I trust this finds you all fit and well and enjoying the sunny weather. On August 1st, my wife Fiona and I were kindly invited along to conduct the formal re-opening of the Bourne Pyramid Club on West Street. Like all bars and clubs, they had been forced to close their doors back in March, so it was an absolute delight to be able to “cut the ribbon” and get another club/business up and running. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there in what is such a lovely, welcoming atmosphere and surroundings, for snooker, pool and darts players alike. Many thanks to the club’s committee for inviting us along, but in particular for making us so welcome on the day to Gary Cooke (Chairman) and Kelly Wickes (Treasurer). That was a great and positive (remember our key word!) way to start August. This was
followed up by a more formal and sombre occasion on August 15th to commemorate VJ 75 Day. My wife and I attended a very short service as an act of remembrance and homage to the tens of thousands of service personnel from across the UK and Commonwealth who fought and died in the war against Japan, including all those who were held prisoners of war by the Japanese. On a personal note here, this includes one of my longdeceased family members who did not get repatriated back to the UK until 1947 and was basically unrecognisable from the brave young chap who had gone off to war! The service commenced with an address by the Royal British Legion, Bourne Branch President, Lt Col Tom Hamilton (retired). A wreath was then laid at the foot of the Cenotaph on behalf of the parish of Bourne and then the Act of Homage was read, followed by Jasmin playing the Last Post. Two minutes’ silence was impeccably observed and, right on the stroke of 11am, with the bells chiming from the Abbey Church behind us, Jasmin then played “Reveille” on her trumpet and I read the “Kohima Epitaph” to conclude the service. Thanks go to the Bourne Branch of the Royal British Legion for organising the event; to Matt Bostock at Roadphone Communication for the use of their mobile speaker system; to all the members of the public
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who attended, including some veteran service personnel; but particularly to Bourne United Charities for giving their permission for this event to go ahead.
Council News: The team preparing the Parish’s Neighbourhood Plan are still beavering away and, as you will see from other pages in this issue, they are trying to encourage residents to take part in a consultation entitled ‘Vision and Objectives’. For those of you interested in ensuring a good future for the town and surrounding villages, please take the time to visit the Neighbourhood Plan website and complete the questionnaire. We can make a difference! Finally, let’s keep upbeat and look forward to better times ahead. Remember - Covid-19 doesn’t spread itself, its people who spread the virus! Take care. Colin Pattison S E P T E M BE R 2 0 2 0
