In April 2005 I proposed that the Town Council should donate "up to £5000", as requested, to contribute to the floodlighting of the cathedral's Millennium tower. This was in order to avoid the stalemate of a divided Council on the issue and happily this was passed.

What a success this has been at long last, with the first lighting yesterday on Advent Sunday!

Bury St Edmunds Town Council

Last night the Council co-pted a new member to fill a vacancy as no election had been called. Those who put themselves forward were: a man whose political allegiance was not declared or known (at least to me), a current Conservative Party borough councillor and a former borough councillor who described himself as supporting the Labour Party.

The vote, which was in the public session and by a show of hands, was seven for each of the last two candidates. The former borough councillor (Labour) was then duly elected on the casting vote of the chairman.

Six out of the seven council members who voted for him, including the chairman, were 'elected' unopposed as Labour members  in 2011. That is, there was no actual ballot and none needed any votes.

I understand that the above procedure was entirely lawful.

Charity update 2

Final amounts are: £32 for Apex and £300 for moustache. Thank you again to all donors!

Charity update

Thank you to all who donated to St Nicholas' Hospice Care last Friday when I played 50 carols and Christmas pop songs ustairs in the Apex. Unfortunately I was competing with a lot of demands on visitors' cash and I only made £24.49 - far less than at other times. However, I have at least one further donation promised so I hope this amount will increase.

A big thank you to my 'Movember' donors. To date my moustache has raised £267 for men's health charities, and I hope to hit my £300 target by the end of this week.

Follow me on Twitter (see right hand bar and blue logo) for regular updates, news and comments.

Come and hear me play!

I shall be playing the following from 1-3pm in the upstairs bar of the Apex on the Friday of the Christmas Fayre - 23rd November. Please come along and if possible drop a few coins (or notes!) into my St Nicholas Hospice collecting box.

Walking in the air (the snowman)
Angels from the realms
Winter wonderland
Away in a manger
Jingle bells
Ding dong merrily
God rest ye merry
White Christmas
We wish you
Angel’s carol (John Rutter)
In dulci jubilo
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Good King Wenceslas
Hark the herald
Little donkey
Candlelight carol
In the bleak midwinter
In the bleak midwinter arr. Darke
Infant lowly
Have yourself a very merry
Mary’s boy child
I saw three ships
Christmas time, mistletoe & wine
It came upon a midnight clear
O come all ye faithful
So this is Christmas
O come, O come Emmanuel
O little town of Bethlehem
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
On Christmas night
Once in royal
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Silent night
The first Nowell
Santa Claus is coming to town
The holly & ivy
We three kings
Merry Christmas everybody
While shepherds watched
As with gladness
Jingle rock
Lo He comes
See amidst
Let it snow
Unto us
The angel Gabriel
The shepherds’ farewell
Nativity carol (John Rutter)

Come Thou long expected Jesus

Sleepers wake!

 

Happy Church Walks!

After years rather than months of trying, residents of Church Walks now have a grit bin. For a long time the criteria's inclusion of a "slope" was deemed not to apply to the Walks, but  a group of residents and I managed to persuade the Finance, Policy and Resources committee that one was nevertheless needed. We are all delighted they agreed and that the bin is now in place.

All they need now is the grit...

 

Warning: alarming picture below!

Well I did warn you. Here is my moustache, exactly half way through the month of "Movember". If you want to add to my £200 already raised for men's health charities (including testicular and prostate cancers) simply click here.

Now go and lie down.