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Around Town Meets...
The Mayor of Kirklees
 We recently met up for a chat with the new Mayor of Kirklees and discovered she had a real baptism of fire the day after taking office.
Talk about being thrown in at the deep end, says Cllr Jean Calvert, the new Mayor of Kirklees. Just one day after taking office, she had to meet and help entertain the Queen during her recent much-anticipated visit to Huddersfield at the end of May.
She said: “I took office on May 23 and the very next day was sat next to the Queen having lunch. I think you could say I really was thrown in at the deep end but it really was a great day.”
Jean, a former cleaner and library assistant, is a cheerful bubbly woman who is so very obviously enjoying her new role. Just before her appointment with Around Town, she had been called upon to open the recent Food and Drink Festival being held in and around Huddersfield’s St George’s Square, a typical Mayoral duty.
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Every year the new Mayor has to select his or her special charity to focus on and raise money for. This year Jean has chosen the West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not Trust which is busy raising money to build a hospice and respite care centre for West Yorkshire children.
Plans have recently been approved to build the hospice on land at Fell Greave, Brackenhall and now fundraisers are all systems go to raise the £3 million needed before building can begin. Over £1 million has already been raised.
Jean, who lives close to the chosen hospice site, says: “I think originally the charity looked at various sites and this one at Brackenhall is ideal because of its central location and close links to the motorway network. Some people in the area were worried we would lose another ‘green’ site as this land is currently just fodder land but I believe the benefits outweigh this.
“The site will be fully landscaped and the building constructed of Yorkshire stone to fit in to the local surroundings. It should be a great asset to the area as well as being a much needed facility for West Yorkshire children and their families.”
Jean said: “The charity’s management committee are now planning ahead to the actual construction of the hospice and would always welcome input from people with experience of dealing with such a large project. Anyone who wishes to get involved and help move this project on can do so by contacting the charity directly on 01484 489789.
Already various events are being organised to raise money for the hospice charity. A golf tournament held in June at Bradley Park Golf Club, in conjunction with club professional Parnell Reilly, raised well over £2,000.
Jean is particularly looking forward to the fashion show at the Town Hall on October 4 which will see Jean herself taking to the catwalk along with ‘models’ from Huddersfield Town Football Club. Tickets for this prestigious Mayor’s charity event are now on sale at Huddersfield and Holmfirth Tourist Information Centres, Dewsbury Town Hall, Council Cash Offices and the Lawrence Batley Theatre. Tickets are £5 each.
“We’re also organising a big carol concert in December at the Town Hall, a mass male voice choir event, a dance event at the Lawrence Batley Theatre and many other things. I think fundraising for this particular charity should go very well this year as people are very keen to support it.
“We can all empathise with children who are ill. I’m lucky, my children and grandchildren are all healthy but not all families are so lucky. This is a charity which should touch all our hearts and we should all be eager to support it. If people are organising fundraising events for the hospice charity and want me to attend, I am always happy to help.
As well as her charity work, the Mayor has a constant round of engagements to attend. So far, since taking office in May, she has attended well over 100 events.
“The highlight so far is definitely the Queen’s visit but I also enjoyed the recent trip to Poland to mark the 10th anniversary of being a twin town. We were on the go all the time and it was exhausting but really good fun as well.”
Being appointed the Mayor of Kirklees is something that Jean never thought would happen to her in a million years.
She originally became involved in local politics after she had to fight her corner when taking maternity leave with her third child. After being told she had to start her maternity leave before she wanted to, Jean dug her heels in and won her case.
Her initial battles with authority saw her appointed as a shop steward for the GMB union and she went on to stand as a Labour councillor in her home ward. One of her proudest achievements over the years has been her involvement in the regeneration of the Brackenhall and Deighton area.
Although much work has already been done, there is further progress to be made on better street lighting, fencing etc.
She has always believed that women are better than men at being a councillor as they have the community’s best interests at heart. Whereas some men see being a councillor as a good career move, women tend to focus on being activists and getting the job done.
Her own career is a very modest one. From being a cleaner to lunchtime supervisor and eventually a library assistant at Deighton School, she now still works part-time for Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford in and among her Mayoral duties.
Even as we talk, Jean looks at her watch and says she has to go to work, ever conscious of her commitments.
One of her other proudest moments was when she led the campaign by parents to save Deighton High School from closure. Although the campaign failed, she was then asked to stand as the local councillor for the Deighton ward (now Ashbrow).
She stood for the council in 1992 and has held the seat ever since. That’s why the building of the hospice in her home ward is so important to her as her chosen Mayoral charity. It’s a chance to help both children and their families who are going through very difficult times, and also a chance to help the area continue to grow and improve.
“People always used to come and ask me for help and advice on how to sort things out even before I was a councillor. I must be that sort of person,” says Jean.
Over the years she has also championed the cause of the disadvantaged and as a new councillor, joined the Child Care Committee and the Community Development Committee. This was to teach her much about social issues including child poverty, domestic violence and prostitution.
She said: “I took my late husband along to confences and it really opened his eyes to modern issues.”
Sadly her husband died three years ago so has missed seeing her finest hour, taking on the role of Mayor. Now she enlists the help of her partner Shane Eastwood and her sister Mary Keogh as her Mayoral consorts.
Jean’s role as Mayor will continue until May and she hopes, in particular, that her fundraising efforts for the West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not-Trust will be something to be particularly proud of.
Published Autumn 2007. All information correct at time of print
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