Author: Brian Riley

CAFOD & BDC Thursday May12th 2011

Brian Riley Church matters, Political - Local

We go to Sudbury where Alice & I are hosting lunch at Prezzo for two CAFOD officials, the CAFOD rep for Sudbury and Fr. Peter Brett. (I am the CAFOD representative in Hadleigh). We discuss how we might co-ordinate our activities and what events we might promote such as gathering up print cartridges and old mobile telephones.

Later that evening I drop into the Babergh District Council informal get together. Not as entertaining as I expected. But I had a pleasant chat with Dave Busby (Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee) about future plans.

No wine was served at the function and afterwards I dropped into the White Hart to see who was there. I bumped into one of the candidates in Hadleigh South and we had an interesting conversation about his experiences with the Council and the personal history of one or two officers.

Suffolk Links 11th May 2011

Brian Riley Uncategorized

I attend a meeting sponsored by Suffolk County Council to promote their Dial a Ride facility. The system is that you telephone (up to a week ahead) and book a mini bus to collect and deliver you somewhere. It is meant as a supplement to commercial bus services – thus the minibus will collect you from Hadleigh and deliver you to Thorpe Morieux so that you can catch the  Bury (St. Edmunds) bus and enjoy (e.g.) market day. The minibus will also collect you from Thorpe Morieux and deliver you home.

At the function, apart from the usual suspects, I met James Finch and David Yorke Edwards, both Conservative County Councillors.

HadCham Tues May 10th 2011

Brian Riley HadCham

I attend a committee meeting of the Hadleigh Chamber of Commerce. We briefly discussed a lack of contact with Hadleigh High School regarding Young Enterprise and the like – so I offered to contact One Suffolk. The High School stops at the age of sixteen which might explain their lack of interest.

Most of our time was spent discussing the arrangements for our stand at the Hadleigh Show (May 21st).

Lots of good ideas and offers of muscle.

The real star is Darrell Thompson of Darrell Thompson Associates who hustles around making things happen.

Group Meeting Monday May 9th 2011

Brian Riley Group Matters

Off to a meeting of the first meeting of Babergh District Council Conservative Group in the new governance cycle. Lots of welcome and congratulation all round. The chairperson Jennie Jenkins deals with us all confidently and efficiently.

I am to be recommended for Vice Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee and for Chairmanship of the Information Management Technology Group (which is in dormancy pending creation as a joint committee with Mid Suffolk). I am to keep my positions on the Licensing & Appeals Committees as well as on the Joint Implementation Scrutiny Committee.

At long last we have seen the finished leaflet dealing with getting out the yes vote for the merger referendum. It’s not my idea of an encouraging note. It reads more like a suicide note and will convince few people to follow our lead. The Council’s own document which was sent out with the voting papers does not engage the citizen’s emotions and neither does our leaflet. I shall be delivering the leaflets with reluctance.

Church – Sunday May 8th 2011

Brian Riley Church matters

I had previously arranged to speak after Mass to tout for lift sharing volunteers.

St Joseph's, Hadleigh

I intended to finish my appeal with the following:

Finally Ladies & Gentlemen, I had the honour on Thursday of being re-elected a District Councillor for Hadleigh North.

Just as we did four years ago I’m pleased to invite you to share cake and sparkling wine in celebration in the Church Hall after Mass.

Thank you and please see me later about sharing transport.

But as I finished the first sentence spontaneous applause broke out – which was absolutely staggering.

I press ganged two of the altar servers to cut and hand out the cake whilst I busied myself with the bottle  department.

The Count 6th May 2011

Brian Riley Election Days

Up fairly early again but only because I wanted to take  a new photograph of St. Joseph’s Church. The morning light is softer and the sun is in the right quarter. The new roof is nearly finished and I need the new photo for next month’s entry in the Hadleigh Community News.

Then it’s time to collect a neighbour who is going to ride shotgun for me and be my extra pair of eyes at the vote count in East Bergholt High School. Contrary to expectation they are already counting the votes for Hadleigh South as we walk in. Votes are being transcribed onto tally sheets and it’s obvious that some of the counting staff do not understand what they are doing. Indeed one transcriber was escorted from the premises.

My new Tory colleague Kathryn Grandon comfortably gets into second place and so has a seat on the District Council. Kath was in tears of joy at the result.

My ward’s  votes are counted (not transcribed) in the early afternoon. I come top with 595 votes up from 381 four years ago. Lots of congratulations and recognition of all the hard work.

I’m then off to Asda to buy a celebratory cake and six bottles of sparkling Saumur from Majestic – more later.

Election Day May 5th 2011

Brian Riley Election Days

I am up at 6 and straight into the shower. A quick porridge breakfast for AMR (my spouse), and a piece for fruit for me. The polling stations open at 7 and I needed to be there wearing my rosette to welcome everyone but especially my voters who have come out early to vote for me (I hope). I also like to greet the polling station staff – since like me they will have a long day and I like to keep them on my side in case of
later difficulties.

I was spelled at 7.30 and then went to the Hadleigh Chamber of Commerce breakfast and then to the Hadleigh South polling station to check on the arrangements for Kathryn Grandon.

Thus was the day run, greeting voters, grabbing a bite to eat and so on.

In the evening I popped into the Lamb for a quick bite and met a constituent (who is not a fan). Nevertheless we had a civilised half hour together and he bought me a drink. At 10 p.m. the polling
station closed. I saw the boxes being sealed and so I went home and to sleep the sleep on the just.