LETS

I went to a meeting held at the City Council a few weeks ago on the subject of community involvement and participation. There were two things that struck me about that meeting. Firstly the good will that existed in the room from a number of people many of them community representatives who were keen to explore new ideas.

I was reading the Sentinel over the last week the prayer event organised by Saltbox and the hopes of participants. Some of the hopes I equally share such as the idea of a Government Department relocating to the area. In some ways we are well blessed- no pun intended- that faith communities are especially strong in North Staffs. I think that in a discussion with Lloyd Cooke the figure of 140 was mentioned.

I noticed this young woman smirking and looking at me while I was standing beside the bar. She was saying “ping, ping”. I had no idea what she was saying although her mockery was directed at me. The group of other women joined in making the same noise” ping, ping”. I was perplexed that for some reason I was a figure of fun. It was not until a few days later that the enigma was solved.

The Job Centre is a 100 years old this month. The Observer had a feature on this auspicous anniversary last week. The piece mentioned the role that Winston Churchil the then Liberal President of the Board of Trade had in founding the Labour Exchange as it was then called although the history of the Job Centre/ Labour Exchange goes back further than that.