Two events from the April Council Meeting reminded me just how lucky I am.

The afternoon spring sunshine pours down from a clear blue sky as I sit in the garden and reflect on what could have been.

The first event was a presentation by the Greater Manchester Strokes Network outlining the new arrangements for treating strokes in our community.

I feel very lucky becasue over one third of strokes result in death within one month, one third of stroke victims are left severly disabled. I suffered a stroke in 2006. It was August Bank Holiday Sunday and as I stepped outside onto the terrace (where I am sitting now) the right side of my face seemed to sag and felt peculiar and when I tried to speak I could only utter unintelligible words.

Thank goodness my wife Pat instantly recognised the symptoms and called an ambluance after sitting me down in the lounge chair. Within 20 minutes I was in Stepping Hill Hospital A&E department and was subsequently transferred to a stroke ward where I received treatment. As a result, after five days, I was discharged with only a slight speech impediment and was able to resume my Council duties within a couple of weeks.

I was fotunate it was only a minor stroke but any stroke requires immediate medical attention in hospital.

The NHS is now promoting a small acronym which is useful to remember for future cases:

F  Face - Any facial displacement
A  Arms - Anyimpairment in arms and legs
S  Speech - Any speech difficulties
T  Time - Telephone immediately for help

This can save a life!

It was good to see during our discussion that the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Cheadle, Ben Jeffreys, was present in the gallery to witness this debate, which he and all our party support unconditionally.

The second event was the discussion of a resolution by the Council.

This resolution, which was agreed unanimously, condemns the activities of the BNP - a party that seeks to spread fear, intolerance and division in our Borough.

We must all refuse to be intimidated and seduced by their insidious campaign and reject them at every opportunity in the ballot box. If we do so, we will have done a great service to our way of life in this country.

The policies of the BNP spring out of the National Socialist Party of pre-war Germany (the Nazis).

I am proud that we fought a war to secure our liberty against such people. It is because of our fellow countrymen's great sacrifices that we are all here today and I am able to sit in peace in my garden.

Cllr J B Leck
Bramhall South

This article, by Cllr B Leck, was first published by the Stockport Express 29.04.09.