THE STORY OF A STORYTELLER WITH A ‘MILL-STONE AROUND HIS NECK’…

You probably know the quote "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

'"I'M THE MAN WITH THE MILL-STONE"

Now I don’t consider Kieran Quinn an enemy as such; he’s merely a person whose decisions I strongly disagree with, and like most politicians, who find it easier to be economical with facts in order to advance a particular point of view, I feel the need to expose the omissions and falsehoods. In order to do this, I like to monitor his blog, so I know his steps, which enables me expose his Achilles heel.

Now I don’t know if the council leader actually writes his own blog; and with all the pressures on his shoulders in planning which cuts to introduce next; which piece of land to transfer to some Social Housing Group; having to attend board meetings and appearing for weekly photo-calls in the obligatory ‘Day-Glo’ jacket, whilst having to cope with the loss of Michael Kane, his political assistant, little helper , who is now polishing a seat in Westminster with the seat of his M&S whistle, it wouldn't surprise me if he's now had to employ another council wordsmith to pen the regular column.

Whichever, in his latest musing, like most sensible politicians whose party is again seeking election, he informs us that he has always had a keen interest in local history, particularly regarding the town he represents and its surrounding area, and as if he feels he needs to prove his sincerity, he goes on to describe the time when Droylsden’s Lumb Mill was demolished and how he organised the preservation of an engraved monument to Droylsden’s proud manufacturing past when ‘Cotton was King!’ namely the mill's name stone.

In his blog he tells us, “I’m sure many Droylsden residents will have fond memories of the mill and working there before it was finally demolished in 1991.” 

THE MILL-STONE WITHOUT THE MAN ROUND ITS NECK

He then goes on to tell us, “…This is why when the building was being demolished, along with residents and my fellow councillors, I organised for the Mill’s entrance stone to be saved and, initially, displayed at Littlemoss School!” 

So by implication, and taking his words at face value, we, the residents of Tameside, should be eternally grateful to Kieran Quinn and those philanthropic councillors of yore, who had the foresight to save such a rich historical piece of our industrial heritage.

Now the story so far is all very commendable, but after cursory research,  perhaps the councillor could explain how he and his fellow councillors arranged to rescue the mill’s entrance stone as the once giant factory was being demolished in 1991, when, according to his council profile, he did not become a member of the council until 1994?

He also might like to clarify how it is that on Cllr Jim Middleton’s blog dated 2009, he too tells the story of what is rapidly becoming another Tameside council ‘mill-stone’ but he recalls it rather differently.

According to Cllr Jim's blog, written 5 years ago, it appears that it was local people like Susan Marsh who wanted to make sure that they saved a part of the Mill in remembrance of their town’s heritage.

So it was a lady called Susan Marsh and her colleagues, with the help of Tameside Labour Council, who saved this entrance stone and not Kieran Quinn after all!

So, the mystery deepens! - Or does it?

Because this is typical of the egotistical attitude that is all too prevalent in today’s politicians.

They often claim credit for something they had nothing what-so-ever to do with, or re-release a story, a policy or an idea, that that has been released several times before in belief that the gullible will swallow it. 

No wonder people no longer trust politicians!