Horwich Advertiser Issue 631

Page 4 January 2026 AD SALES 01204 478812 THE MAYOR’S DIARY VICTORIA RIGBY, the mayor of Horwich, looks back on her time in office so far and forward to what 2026 holds 10 11 Monday Tuesday The Mayor’s Diary SEEING IN THE NEW YEAR HERE’S what I got up to over the last couple of weeks of 2025: Sunday December 14 I WAS invited to the Annual Christmas Service at St Ambrose Church in Leyland. This is a fantastic event hosted by the Freemasons. Along with the usual carol ser- vice, the Freemasons also present local foodbanks with a donation raised from fundraising through- out the year. This year was the biggest yet, with them being able to donate £1,150 to eight different foodbanks, AS we embark on a new year, I’ve had the chance to reflect back on my mayoral year so far. I have been, and continue to be, eternally grateful to the residents of Horwich for hon- ouring me with this incredi- ble opportunity. I had the pleasure of attending many events and meeting so many people in 2025. Some of the high- lights include: ● Attending the VE Day assembly and Summer Fair at Horwich Parish (my old primary school) ● Opening various exhibitions at Horwich Heritage ● Attending community events in our town such as Horwich Rox, Festival of Horwich and Horwich Christmas Markets ● Celebrating Horwich Foodshare’s three-year anniversary at their current premises ● Meeting the various business owners of Horwich at the Horwich Showcase ● Visiting the North West Ambulance base and learning about all the work they do ● Representing our town at both Horwich and Blackrod’s Remembrance parades ● The Mayor’s Rodeo – an incredible night with the Mayor of Blackrod raising funds for our chosen charities ● So many Christmas events, I was definitely in the festive spirit by the end of it! ASwewelcome theNewYear, I would like to extendmy very best wishes to all the residents of Horwich. Thepastyearhasremindedusofthestrongsenseofcommunitythatmakes Horwich such a special place. Whether through local events, volunteering, supportingour high streets, or simply lookingout for one another, thepeople ofHorwichhaveonceagainshownkindness, resilience, andpride inour town. As we look ahead, the New Year brings fresh opportunities to continue working together to protect what we value, support those who need it most, and build a positive future for our town. I am proud to serve as mayor of Horwich and look forward towhat the next fewmonths has in store. Thank you for your continued support and community spirit. I wishyouand your families a happy, healthy, and peaceful NewYear. including Horwich Foodshare. This money will go such a long way and make a lifechanging difference to our local residents. After the ser- vice, we were invited into the church hall for drinks and mince pies, plus a surprise visit from Santa! Monday December 15 TODAY started with a delicious lunch with the Wright Place Luncheon Club at Horwich Evangelical Church. It was bril- liant to see howmany members they have and hear the stories of those that have been volun- teering since the beginning. The service provided isn’t just lunch, it is a safe space for those who may be feeling alone to come to and make new friends. We were also joined by the children from Horwich Parish Primary School who performed a selection of carols. In the evening, I attended the mayor of Adlington’s Christmas Carol Concert at Adlington Com- munity Centre. Rivington and Adlington Brass Band gave another incredible performance whilst we all sang along to the classic Christ- mas carols. This is a great annual event hosted by the mayor, and all for free for local residents. Tuesday December 16 I HAD the pleasure of another delicious lunch, this time at the Tuesday Lunch Club at Hor- wich Resource Centre. Again, it was wonderful to see how many members attend and to hear how the club has made a real difference to people’s lives. After lunch, we sang a couple of carols and took part in a Christmas quiz – a good afternoon had by all! Wednesday December 17 THIS evening, I was back in Leyland for the Mayor of South Ribble’s Christmas Carol Ser- vice at St Ambrose Church. We heard readings of the Christ- mas story and had good fun singing Christmas carols, especially when the vicar announced “Carol-oke” and invited the mayor and two other members of the audience to sing a few solos – much to their surprise! Wednesday January 7 AFTER a short break over the Christmas period, I was delighted for my first event of the new year to be an impres- sive birthday celebration. I had the pleasure of being invited to St Katherine’s Care Home to join the other residents in celebrating Alice’s 100th birthday!! Alice was joined by the residents, members of her family and a group of children from Chorley New Road Primary School, who presented her with handmade cards, bunting and presents. It was great to hear from Alice’s family about some of the sto- ries from her life. It was a truly spe- cial afternoon and I was honoured to be included.