MARY BURNS AWARDS
DAY 1

THE `WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE SALFORD COUNCIL PLEASE TURN THE LIGHTS OUT' AWARD…

…also known as the `Rats, Sinking Ships, Rearranging Deckchairs and Jumping Ship' Award

This MARY goes to those zillions of Council people who have got the hell out of the fray through retirement, resigning or resigned to the boot…

Come spring next year, there'll be absolutely no-one left at the Civic Centre…Like, no-one… Anyone fancy running a school? Sorting out housing? Looking after the city's kiddies? The jobs yours!

Ladies and Gentlemen… THE `WILL THE LAST PERSON TO LEAVE SALFORD COUNCIL PLEASE TURN THE LIGHTS OUT' AWARD…goes to…

Please do a drum roll and click here…

Er, there's not enough room on the MARY to inscribe everyone's name but here's just a few who are moving on…

BOB OSBORNE - Deputy Director of Sustainable Regeneration. Also known as the head of Salford's housing. Having been there during Salford's first fantastic seventies regeneration, and determined to "get it right" this time around, Bob is unfortunately retiring and won't see his handy work come to fruition. But don't worry, Bob, we've got a special MARY Lifetime Award just for you later in the ceremony…

STEPHEN BRADBURY – Head of Salford's BSF Programme – or as we like to know it, Bulldozing Schools for the Future. Stephen decided to retire some time ago at the financial close of Phase 1 of BSF. Bet he's glad he's not in charge of the nightmare that is Phase 2 and 3 and 4.

JILL BAKER – Strategic Director of Children's Services. Scapegoated and sacked for the mess that was Children's Services (see millions of past features)

DR ANTONY EDKINS - `superhead' of Harrop Fold High School in Little Hulton. One in the PFI for Salford Council, as Leader John Merry belittled the Schools Adjudicator's suggestion that St George's move in to Harrop. A few weeks later and the superhead's defected to the United Learning Trust…Why?

DAVID TERRY – Head of the Oasis Academy, formerly Hope High. After getting the best head in the north west award, he's now got a glittering Mary to put next to it on his mantlepiece, as he departs for the more exotic climes of St Helens. Why?

CATH CONNOR – `Children's Champion' – disappeared without a trace around the time of the last OFSTED slating re Children's Services.

BRIAN WROE – Assistant Director, Community Services. This is the guy who
wrote to Salford Star a few years ago telling us our application for community committee
funding had been `deferred' without letting us know why for over a month (turns out they were re-writing the constitution specially for us). Brian's now resigning `with effect from Feb 2010' - is it the guilt, Brian? It's Christmas, we forgive you... Meanwhile, any offers for his job, which carries a salary of between £65,478 to £72,027?

To all of you – and the many more who we haven't heard about – this is your MARY…