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new Mayor or Lisburn Councillor Ronnie
Crawford, Photo John Harrison. |
Diabetes UK
is new mayor's charity
LISBURN'S new Mayor,
Councillor Ronnie Crawford has chosen Diabetes
UK as his Charity for the coming year. During
the year Mr Crawford hopes to raise vital funds
for the group, as well as raising awareness
about diabetes, particularly in local schools.
"A very good friend of mine,
George Cantley, died last year," explained Mr
Crawford. "He had diabetes for 55 years
and it affected his heart, he lost toes, it
affected his kidneys and he had to have
dialysis. There are also a number of councillors
in Lisburn who have diabetes.
"As well as fundraising I
hope to raise awareness about diabetes,
particularly in local schools, and encourage
fitness regimes and healthy eating," he
continued.
Mr Crawford also hopes to
encourage as many people as possible to sign up
to the organ donor register.
A spokesperson for Diabetes
UK Northern Ireland commented: "Diabetes UK
Northern Ireland is absolutely delighted that
the newly
appointed Mayor Ronnie
Crawford has chosen us as his charity of the
year. We look forward to working with the Mayor
and the Lisburn city council.
"Given that Diabetes is so
prevalent in Northern Ireland this partnership
is an excellent opportunity to raise the
awareness about the seriousness of the condition
and the work that the charity does locally."
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Words of thanks from
outgoing First Citizen
OUTGOING Mayor, Councillor James
Tinsley has thanked everyone who supported him
during his term in office, including his wife,
Mayoress Margaret Tinsley.
Speaking as he handed over his
chain of office to Councillor Ronnie Crawford, Mr
Tinsley said he had many highlights throughout the
year. and particularly enjoyed meeting the young
people of the city.
Amongst the high spots, Mr
Tinsley noted the opening of Castle Gardens and the
Bridge Community Centre, the laying of the
foundations for a new hotel on the Hillsborough Road
and the Grand Prix. He also said he looked forward
to work beginning on the regeneration of Wallace
Park.
Mr Tinsley also thanked all of
the Council staff for their support during the year,
and singled out his drivers for special words of
appreciation.
He concluded by saying: "Our city is growing and
its fantastic to see."
New chairman vows to continue
hospital campaign
THE new Chairman of Lisburn City
Council's Corporate Services Committee has vowed the
fight to retain vital services at Lagan Valley
Hospital will continue during his term as Chairman.
Councillor Paul Givan said the
Corporate Services Committee, which has been
co-ordinating the Council's campaign to secure the
Hospital's future and to prevent it from becoming
'little more than an overspill facility' for the
Belfast Hospitals, will continue and intensify its
efforts to make sure that this does not happen.
"The Council is determined that
the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
proposals will not go through and I will do
everything I can to play my part to ensure that
these ludicrous plans are abandoned", said Mr Givan.
The people of Lisburn deserve
better. The potential consequences of the demise of
Lagan Valley Hospital are devastating.
"Only this week a young mother in
England spoke in the media of being turned away from
two hospitals and eventually giving birth on the
reception floor of a third.
" Given the well documented maternity meltdown
that has been predicated by leading health care
professionals should the current maternity services
close here in Lisburn, how long will it be before we
have similar experiences in Lisburn," asked Mr Givan. |
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Lisburn's new Mayor
Councillor Ronnie Crawford (right) and
Deputy Mayor Alderman Edwin Poots after
the City Council's AGM at Lagan Valley
Island. Photo John Harrison. |
Poots follows in his father's footsteps
to become Deputy Mayor
FOLLOWING in the footsteps of
his father, former Culture Minister Edwin Poots
has been elected as Lisburn's Deputy Mayor.
Mr Poots had said recently he
would regard it as a great honour to become
Lisburn's first citizen -a post his father never
held - and this week that dream came a step
closer as he became the city's Deputy Mayor, a
position which should see him become Mayor next
year.
DUP colleague Paul Porter
nominated Mr Poots for the post, with the
nomination being seconded by Ulster Unionist
Alderman Ivan Davis. Thanking the council for
his nomination, Mr Poots, taking up his chain of
office, said: "This is not the first time a
Poots has held this position and I hope I will
carry out the role with the same dignity as my
father.
"It is my privilege to be
elected to this position. There is a lot of hard
work to be done and we will seek to make Lisburn
a better place, a place with greater investment
and a place where something is done for people
on all sides of the community. The citizens of
Lisburn can be assured they will be treated
fairly, equitably and we will seek to make this
the best possible place for any citizen to
live."
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LISBURN'S
new Mayor Councillor Ronnie Crawford was in office just a few
hours when he wrote to the First Minister about the future of
the Maze Stadium plan.