LAA CHAIR – REPORT FOR AGM

 I sincerely hope that we never have cause to change the name of our long-established organisation – the Lancashire Authors’ Association!  Why do I say that?  Well, because different reorganisations of Local Government in England have gradually chipped away at our historic County Palatine – and the trend is set to continue!  I do hope that those of you living in Greater Manchester   towns such as Bury, Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale will remember that you are still true Lancastrians, whatever your Council Tax bill may say!  You may remember that the contents of our LAA Book Collection were transferred about two years ago to the University of Bolton, where they could become a study resource and a basis for community engagement.  Now we learn that this learning institute is to be renamed the University of Greater Manchester – what’s that all about?  Does Bolton not have an identity of its own?  Lancashire County Council’s administrative area was greatly reduced in size when the metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside were created in 1974.  Now we learn that it may be abolished altogether under current Government thinking, and that its 14 constituent Local Authorities might be split into two or three Unitary Authorities with a minimum population of 500,000 each.  Bringing government closer to the people?  I think not!  But however much the structure changes, the historic County Palatine still exists, as the Friends of Real Lancashire (established in 1995) hasten to point out.  Even His Majesty, King Charles III, belongs to us, as we continue to drink the Loyal Toast every Lancashire Day and at formal dinners to “The King, Duke of Lancaster”.  So let’s all be proud of our roots, and of our ability to communicate in both word and speech as “True Lancastrians”!

Judith

 

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