Week 5 - 11/17 June
This week seemed a little quieter even though I completed 11 engagements.........
This week seemed to be a little quieter even though I completed 11 engagements. The week started on Wednesday with the Surrey Local Government Lunch at County Hall. This is an annual event which allows the entire Surrey "Chain Gang" , including the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff and the 11 Surrey Borough Mayors and their staffs to meet and exchange ideas. Sally Varah, the High Sheriff, entertained us all with a tale of how the draconian powers of the original sheriffs (viz: Sheriff of Nottingham) had been curtailed over the years; this involved some torturous and highly amusing exchanges of hats and wigs.
On Wednesday evening, the Mayoress and I attended a production of "My Fair Lady" put on by the Farnham Amateur Operatic Society at the Farnham Maltings. It was an excellent show where most of the cast would have been good enough to have starred in the original professional version. I recommend everyone to visit FAOS at some time in the future; that evening proved just how good amateur companies can be.
During the week, I attended the High Sheriff's Garden Party at Painshill Park, opened a Summer Fun Day at Dunsfold Aerodrome in support of the Jigsaw School, attended a wonderful Civic Service at the Farncombe Parish Church for Paul Rivers, the Mayor of Godalming, and I visited the Secretts' family centenary party at Milford (along with several thousand others!). I also attended the Milford Fete where Merrill and I spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon, strolling around chatting with stall holders (including members of the Witley Parish Council) and their visitors. Apparently, the Chief Exec also turned up but she tells me that she was travelling incognito (which was why I didn't see her there) and she went home early when she discovered that she could hear all about what was going on from Councillor John Sandy's informative, if somewhat loud, commentary!
Also during the week, I completed my introduction to the staff of Waverley with tours of the Leisure, Environment and Chief Exec's departments. It has been a real pleasure to meet so many of our officers and find out just how diverse the activities covered by the Council are. My sincere thanks to all who participated and to the Chief Exec and Directors for arranging such interesting tours.
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