Keely's Olympic triumph is a proud moment for the borough
Since I last wrote this column, we saw the horrific events unfold in Southport and it is important to state that our thoughts continue to be with everyone affected, particularly the family and friends of the victims.
Myself, the Mayor of Wigan Borough and our chief executive have recently written to our counterparts at Sefton Council to offer our condolences and messages of support.
It was also important that we, as a council, lit up our town halls during the following weekend to show solidarity.
It was an unimaginable tragedy and I’m sure everyone has shared the feelings of shock and devastation.
Unfortunately, in recent weeks we have also seen outbreaks of violence across the country, including incidents in the North West and last week saw rumours of a protest in our borough.
I would like to thank the officers of Greater Manchester Police and our community resilience staff for their work and dedication in keeping our communities safe.
They have faced an exceptionally challenging situation, especially given the bad actors spreading misinformation on social media.
Our city region has remained united in the face of these challenges and we will continue to do so. Only by continuing to work together can we defeat those who want to divide us.
On a completely different and wholly positive topic, we were all delighted to see Keely Hodgkinson claim her Olympic title last week.
It appears the whole nation was glued to our TV screens as the race reached its climax on that Monday evening in Paris. And we loved seeing the footage of the gathering at Leigh Harriers, with everyone cheering Keely on.
The triumph is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication for Keely, her coaching team, family and friends.
It’s an amazing achievement and we can’t wait to see what comes next in what has already become a phenomenal career.
Looking ahead, It's almost time for Proms in the Park in Pennington Hall Park.
Taking place on Saturday, September 7, the event promises to be a fantastic evening of fanfare, flag waving and fireworks.
You can get your tickets on Eventbrite, by searching Proms in the Park Leigh, or by going to the Visit Wigan website.
Posted on Monday 19th August 2024