My first week in office
Well here we are at the end of my first week in office, and what a week that was. Not a huge number of official engagements but a week full of office work and visits...
.....as I prepare to ensure that my themes of raising the profiles of the businesses, military and youth in the Borough get under way.
My first full engagement was on Thursday at an evensong service in Guildford Cathedral to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Surrey branch of the charity "Talk". The charity helps those people recovering from strokes and their families, friends and supporters. The charity's volunteers provide speech therapy sessions and other helpful support activities for the "recoverers" and their families. Jane Langley, the Surrey Co-ordinator for the charity, introduced me to most of the volunteers and "recoverers" over Anniversary cake and tea, before the celebration in the Cathedral.
On Saturday, I visited the Farncombe Youth Football Club and presented medals and shields to the winners and runners up in their under 10 and under 11 competitions. The Club Chairman, Keith Grove and his wife Deborah hosted the Mayoress and me as we watched matches progress through to the finals. It was great fun, despite the cold and damp weather. The children were obviously thoroughly enjoying themselves, and the Mayoress and I were delighted to meet many of them. We were extremely impressed with their sportsmanlike manners and general behaviour; there is no doubt that organisations like the Farncombe Youth Football Club contribute greatly to the well being of children in the Borough. Over the weekend there were 160 youth teams from all over the south east competing in their respective age ranges; an amazing feat of organisation by the volunteer parents and helpers led by Keith and Deborah; well done all!
Merrill and I often visit Milford Farmers' Market on the third Sunday of each month, but this Sunday saw us there for the first time with our badges of office on show. We shall be visiting this and the other Farmers' Markets in the Borough on a regular basis to encourage the producers and shoppers alike. This year is the tenth anniversary of the Milford market which was one of the first to open in the UK. The markets at Milford, Farnham, Cranleigh and Haslemere all have a close association with the Borough Council as we helped set them up, and still provide a lot of administrative support for them, including the services of Market Managers who help ensure that things continue to run smoothly. If you've not experienced one before, why don't you come along to a Farmers' Market near you? You'll find lots of friendly local producers ready to sell you top quality goods. The range of products is amazing and the taste of the local natural foods on offer is outstanding. The Markets are open as follows:
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Cranleigh, Stocklund Square: first Friday each Month, 10am to 2pm
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Farnham, Central Car Park: fourth Sunday each Month, 10am to 1.30pm
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Haslemere, High Street: first Sunday each Month, 10am to 1.30pm
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Milford, Secretts Farm: third Sunday each Month, 10am to 1.30pm
Lunch on Monday was at the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Association Headquarters and Museum at Clandon Park, Guildford. This is an annual event when the local Surrey regiment meets all the new Mayors and has a chance to put a plea for support through the following year. This was particularly apposite for me, and enabled me to reinforce friendships with the military personnel I'll be working with throughout my year.
On Tuesday I launched the new "Wireless Godalming" scheme. The technology company, Nouveau Solutions Ltd, working with a team from Waverley and supported financially through South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Surrey Partnerships, has installed a series of transmitter stations around Godalming to allow free connection to the internet from almost anywhere within the town. The scheme is believed to be the first outside a major city and is currently for a one year trial period. If successful it could be the start of a nationwide scheme, something like the one already covering most of Holland.
To finish a busy first week, I attended the Age Concern Haslemere Annual General Meeting in the Haslewey centre in Shottermill. It is always a pleasure to attend these events and meet some of the thousands of volunteers in the Borough without whom most of our support services would instantly fail. This was a great way to end my first week and to give me encouragement to meet the challenges ahead.
If you would like to know more about any of these events please look at the Waverley Website at www.waverley.gov.uk/mayor where there are links to most of the organisations mentioned, or contact me by email at mayorofwaverley@waverley.gov.uk.