My review of 2023

Like any year 2023 has had its ups and downs.

I lost a friend in Tony Fenton and lovely next door neighbour George but despite being sad at these losses I like to look at the good things too.

Sheila and I had 3 lovely holidays in Derbyshire, Northumberland and West Yorkshire and I had 3 days down in Nottinghamshire watching cricket at Trent Bridge, meeting some fellow railway/local history enthusiasts (David and Geoff) in the town of my birth – Kirkby-In-Ashfield - and visiting Meccano expert and collector Jim Gamble.

I finally hung up my hat as a local councillor after 38 consecutive years. 30 years on Maghull Town Council (1 as Town Mayor), 20 on Lydiate Parish Council and 16 on Sefton Borough Council (7 as Council Leader) and at 65 it seemed about the right time to stand down. I enjoyed the vast majority of my years as a local councillor but your time is never really your own if you are to do the job properly so being able to concentrate on other things now has felt good. I also hung up my hat as a school governor at Maghull High School this year.

I met some great people through politics – Andrew, Roy, Robbie, Cliff, Peter, Anthony H, Shirley Williams, Maisie, Sheila N, Geoff, Nigel A, Iain BB, John P David R, David T, John D & Charles Kennedy all come to mind and there have been many others too. To have my long-service recognised by my political party in 2023 was a very pleasant surprise. A big thank you to those who nominated me for the award.

 

I’m now heavily involved in the Frank Hornby Trust and as a volunteer curator of Maghull’s Frank Hornby Heritage Centre which is a very rewarding pastime indeed. Hornby, of Meccano, Hornby Trains and Dinky Toys fame, lived for much of his adult life in Maghull and having lived in Maghull myself from 1968 to 2011 I’m delighted to be a part of celebrating the Town’s most famous resident.

Cycling is almost an everyday activity for me now and I’ve just come back from my last ride of 2023 and it was nice one in sunshine too. Keith a lifelong-friend is a fellow cyclist and through this activity I’ve also met Amby who has become a good friend. I share this activity with brother-in-law Ian and my old chum Roy although I’ve not cycled much with either of them in 2023.

As a Lydiate volunteer litter picker I’ve also just done my usual monthly litter pick of a local footpath; the last of 2023.

Assisting Lydiate in Flower and Maghull in Bloom (including a couple of hours in December playing Santa outside Morrisions in Maghull) is also a great pastime of mine which I share with Sheila in terms of Maghull in Bloom.

I've also enjoyed my time assisting Sefton Council for Voluntary Service with their local heritage projects

Our daughter Jen had a piece of her maritime historical work exhibited in London in September and I was rather privileged to be her ‘plus one’ at the celebration event. Proud Dad and all that, of course.

 

So for me 2023 has seen a couple of sad losses but many memorable things too. How Sheila has put up with me all these years never ceases to amaze me.

All the very best for 2024.