Week 4 - 4/10 June 2008
Some 14 events this week, phew!......
Some 14 events this week, phew! Most of my "spare" time seemed to be spent checking my diary to see where I was going next, who I was likely to meet, what the event was about, and preparing notes for speeches etc.
Far too many events to write a piece about each one so here is a short list of the highlights together with brief statements of feelings about each.
Wednesday - Beauty and the Beast on Ice at the Princes Hall, Aldershot - GO AND SEE IT!!!
Thursday - Launch of the St Andrew's School, Farnham Project 2010 - Intention is to raise a quarter of a million pounds to refurbish the building - School has an excellent reputation, fully substantiated by the performance of the children selected to present to the assembled dignitaries - A very worthy cause looking for corporate sponsorship.
Thursday - Attended evening session with 1254 (Godalming) Squadron Air Training Corps - met the cadets and was given guided tour by the Officer Commanding Flt Lt Tony Rushton - started discussions on the possible appointment of a Mayor's Cadet.
Friday - Visited Cranleigh Farmers' Market - much smaller than the others but still has the same friendly air. I do like these markets and make several purchases each visit. The Bate household now eats and drinks much higher quality foodstuffs than it used to!
Saturday - A day at the Epsom Derby with the Deputy Mayor and Consort - Fantastic!! And we managed to ease a few pounds from the bookies.
Sunday - A drive in one of Sir Ray Tindle's Austin Sevens at the Farnham Festival of Transport. A marvellous day topped off by dinner at Bon East with the Farnham Chamber of Commerce. Both activities raised funds in support of my favoured Phyllis Tuckwell Hospic,e as well as other nominated charities.
Monday and Tuesday were full of various meetings planning forthcoming events, but Tuesday evening was spent with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK at the QEII conference centre in London. The worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, comprising some 30 million members, is celebrating the centenary of the creation of its system of Kalifat (spiritual leadership). The current (5th) head of the community (Kalifa) presided and the event was attended by many senior politicians, including the Foreign Secretary, and other important people from across the UK community. Messages of support were sent by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association is renowned for its peace loving attitude and has a strap line of "Love for All, Hatred for None". There is a community of Ahmadiyya Muslims living in my ward and I have always been impressed by their wholehearted integration within and contribution to the local village.
If you would like to know more about any of these events please look at the Waverley Website at www.waverley.gov.uk where there are links to most of the organisations mentioned, or contact me by email at mayorofwaverley@waverley.gov.uk