26 January; Macular Disease Society Support Group AGM

I hadn’t realised that Hazel and I already know some people who suffer from Macular Disease until Hazel returned from today’s meeting, held at Havant’s United Reformed Church Meeting Hall, and was relating who was present.  Again, my apologies for not being with you but I only came out of hospital yesterday.

I understand from Hazel that she very much enjoyed meeting and chatting with all the Club members who meet once a month to support each other with advice and information relating to this eye condition that causes central vision loss.  The period of sight deterioration varies per person but has a significant affect on one’s lifestyle as many adaptations and changes have to be made.

 

 

I wish you all continued friendship with local people who can share their experience of living with Macular Disease and for the value your Club brings to your members – thank you.

25 January; Launch of Havant Rotary Schools’ Games

Unfortunately, I was admitted to hospital on Monday and discharged today which resulted with me being unable to attend this special occasion but my Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gerry Shimbart, made a welcome speech and my wife, Hazel, attended on my behalf.

You may be aware that Havant Rotary Club has undertaken a massive project, as our local Olympic organisers, to enable our young people in Havant Borough to experience and demonstrate the Olympic values of friendship, excellence, respect and ideals of inspiration, courage, determination and equality during a 5-days Olympics celebration to be held 25^th-29^th June.

Currently, approx 90% of junior, primary and senior schools have already signed up and   school staff are ready to encourage their students to become fully involved. It is envisaged there will be over 16,500 students, aged from 4 years plus, participating in many sporting events and related activities taking place at various local venues.

All students taking part in the week’s celebrations, in whatever capacity, will each receive a Certificate in acknowledgement of their effort, work and commitment to this special project as they will have demonstrated the seven Olympic values and ideals.

As the Mayor of Havant, I wholeheartedly commend Havant Rotary Club for working with our local schools and creating this fantastic opportunity for our young people to experience so many sporting activities in 5-days.  I’m confident all students will enjoy themselves and will look forward, with added fervour, to the UK 2012 Olympic Games.

Thank you, Havant Rotary Club members, for organising this magnificent event.

14 January; Dynamo Youth Theatre Les Miserables School Edition

Photos kindly provided by Paul Burrows

I’m so pleased that my health improved sufficiently to enable me to attend St Faith’s church today to watch Dynamo Youth Theatre’s production of Les Miserables School Edition.

 

 

I now fully appreciate why Hazel returned home buzzing with excitement and praise for this magnificent production after seeing it last week !

I’ve enjoyed seeing Les Miserables in London on a couple of occasions and this local production was equally professional, emotional, enchanting and, I think, even more exciting due to the unconventional venue and superbly talented local youth cast.

All your dedicated rehearsals paid off resulting with a fabulous show that brought tears to the eyes of many audience members.

Dynamo members should all be very proud of your achievements – you are amazing.  Congratulations to all of you and to the talented band and production crew who supported this show.

 

 

Special congratulations for Director Andrew Bowker and his team for yet another memorable and successful production.

13 January; Havant 2327 ATC Squadron Dinner

Hazel and I barely recognised the elegant change to 2327 Squadron Havant Air Cadets this evening when we attended their annual black tie dinner.  They all looked stunning dressed in their evening attire – what a transformation !

We had a most enjoyable evening accompanied by good food and interesting company – thank you to everyone involved.

Our special thanks for raising and donating a significant sum of money towards my Charity Appeal Fund supporting my chosen charities, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and Dorothy’s Dream, The Rowans Hospice at Home Appeal.

You’re a special group of people – thank you so much for your generosity.

07 January; “Chris Hunt Memorial Challenge Swim”

Today, in my continued absence, Hazel had the privilege of meeting Chris Hunt’s parents, Mr Charles and Mrs Marguerite Hunt, while they attended Havant & Waterlooville Swimming Club’s commemorative annual charity event at Horizon Leisure Centre in Waterlooville.

Since the death of their Master swimmer 44 yr old son during a training session in 2007, each year there is a “challenge” to swim the English Channel using butterfly stroke which was Chris’ favourite stroke.  This year approx 100 swimmers of all ages supported this charity event to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, the charity chosen by Chris’ parents.

Hazel found it exciting watching the non-stop relay taking place in the pool’s eight lanes and to see the number of lengths achieved constantly increasing eg after 90 minutes, 39.95 miles had been achieved and the total journey to/from France is only 42 miles or 2,704 lengths of the 25m pool !  When France was reached, “La Marseillaise” was played (France’s National Anthem) and on return arrival to the UK “God Save the Queen” was played (our National Anthem)  which all added to the fun and authenticity of this fantastic event.

After 110 minutes the Challenge ended, resulting with 56.59 miles or 3,643 lengths having been achieved.  This equates to/from France and almost entirely around the Isle of Wight which was another favoured area to swim enjoyed by the late Chris Hunt.

We hope everyone enjoyed this special event and that much money was raised for the British Heart Foundation – let’s hope it’s the best to date !  Thank you for inviting us to share the experience and I confirm my apologies for being unable to be there personally.

If anyone is interested in joining Havant and Waterlooville Swimming Club, may we suggest initially visiting the Club’s website www.handwsc.co.uk

06 January; Dynamo Youth Theatre’s Les Miserables

Our first engagement in 2012 and unfortunately I missed it as I’ve been “grounded” for a few days due to health reasons.  However, I wish everyone a Healthy, Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Today Hazel attended St Faith’s church to watch Dynamo Youth Theatre’s production of Les Miserables and thoroughly enjoy this superb production as she returned home buzzing with excitement and praise.

 

She told me that the entire cast and chorus all performed with enthusiasm, emotion, talent and professionalism.  Much hard work during the rehearsal period certainly paid off as it was SO exciting to watch and fabulous to listen to; everyone appeared to give their all and one can’t ask for more commitment than that.

The set design and construction was superb within the unconventional venue. This, together with the excellent costumes, lighting, band and brilliant performers, all added to the atmosphere of this amazing performance.

 

On behalf of Hazel, I confirm her appreciation and sincere thanks to everyone for providing a very enjoyable evening – so much talent, Dynamo members are awesome !

 

Photos kindly provided by Paul Burrows

Congratulations to Director Andrew Bowker and his team for another memorable and successful production.

 

 

22 December; Our Charity Ball

Great Dinner !

 

This evening sparkled !

Friends, neighbours, colleagues, councillors, past mayors and the current mayoral “chaingang” all supported our Christmas Charity Ball held at Lakeside on Hayling Island.  We were approx 285 people in number which was a great turnout.

 

This annual event enables everyone to enjoy themselves and tonight was no exception.  Good food, excellent cabaret by the in-house entertainment team and great company contributed to a funfilled memorable evening.

A B I G “Thank You” to everyone who supported this event – hopefully we raised a good sum of money for my charities as well as enjoying ourselves.

17 – 21 December; Christmas Deliveries

Merry Christmas !

 

 

During this time, we’ve visited approx 35 nursing and rest homes for the elderly within our borough to personally deliver Christmas cards and napkins for all the staff and residents.

 

We thank you for your time and wish everyone a very

  “Merry Christmas !”

20 December; RAFA Christmas Lunch

The Hayling Island branch of the Royal Air Forces Association met today for a Christmas celebration lunch.

I enjoyed the carvery and the company at The Barley Mow. Thank you.

I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year and look forward to seeing some of you again soon at my Charity Ball that is only a couple of days away ….

 

17 December; Beacon Food Bank

Beacon Food Bank is a community project run by Portsdown Community Church under the guidance of Ruth Scott, Community Projects Manager for the Church and Sonja Forde, Manager of Beacon Food Bank.  It has existed locally for 5 years, operates 52 weeks of the year and delivers food hampers to anyone in need, not just at Christmas, who resides within the borough of Havant.

Most clients are in a temporary crisis situation eg emergency re-housing due to family breakdown, benefits suspension, redundancy, release from prison, homeless.  Everyone can identify with the aims and vision of Beacon Food Bank as it tries to give each client dignity and encouragement, whatever their circumstances or background, and to provide help to anyone in need without discrimination.  The generous food hampers help to ease a stressful situation and are often met with tears of gratitude from the recipient.

Beacon Food Bank receives referrals from many organisations eg HBC, Havant Women’s Aid, Guinness Care & Support, MIND, Probation Service, Children’s services, Social workers, Doctors and Community Nurses, local churches and other charitable groups.

Today was a special day for packing the Christmas food hampers entitled the “Gift of Christmas.”  These hampers were being packed all morning for deliveries to commence at midday. It’s envisaged that 40 Christmas hampers will be made available to families and individuals of varying age; Hazel contributed to the hamper packing.

Most food is supplied by weekly donations from Portsdown Community Church members, from members of the public who bring non-perishable food donations to the collection point at J Source bookshop (located on 1^st floor of Havant Meridian Centre) and also from businesses and offices who take a collection box for donated food (this can be collected when the box is full).

If you would like to make food donations to this worthy community cause, please take your non-perishable food items to J Source bookshop (located on 1^st floor of Havant Meridian Centre) or contact the Church office on tel 023 9247 0167. Details on Beacon Food Bank are available on www.portsdowncc.org.uk/beaconfoodbank.htm

 

Our sincere thanks are reiterated to the team who carry out this thoughtful, caring and generous help in our area.   

15 December; Federation Carol Service

The East Hampshire Federation of Townswomen’s Guilds held their Festival of Carols and Readings at Cosham Baptist Church today. The Harbour Mayors – Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham and Gosport – were all invited and we enjoyed the service very much.

Under the direction of Beryl Francis, the Choir sang some beautiful carols accompanied by organist, Derek Fry.  The congregation and choir enjoyed singing traditional carols together.

The service concluded with the Townswomen’s Guilds National Anthem “I am a small part of the world” which contains emotive words accompanied by perfect music – Hazel and I found this to be a very moving piece.

The Chairman

Light refreshments were served after the service and this gave us the opportunity to meet. speak with and thank the members for a most enjoyable time.

Thank you, ladies, we had a lovely time; we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.

15 December; A Christmas Coffee Morning

St John Ambulance Community Support Unit, Eastern Area, based In Bedhampton , is a group of volunteers who enjoy helping some of the more vulnerable people in our community.

The team of volunteers mainly provide a Bathing Service for local people who need help to enjoy the comforts and health benefits of having a hot bath.  As well as the obvious benefits of helping to maintain good personal hygiene, relaxing in a hot bath can help to reduce aches and pains and reduce stress.  The bathroom is fully equipped with a modern bath and hoist for people with limited mobility. It looked most enticing…….

Today Hazel and I were invited to join clients and carers for the annual Christmas Coffee Morning.  We had a most enjoyable time meeting and chatting with many people in addition to taking part in a quiz and raffle.

Hazel’s quiz team was named “The Three Girls” and comprised Miss Eileen Dickson, Mrs Beryl Coupland and Hazel.  During a conversation, Eileen and Beryl mentioned to Hazel that they each had their eyes on particular raffle prizes; ever lucky, Hazel’s raffle numbers were called so she chose to give her quiz team friends their “selected” items – they were surprised but very pleased.

Should anyone be interested in joining this invaluable team of St John Ambulance Community Support Unit volunteers to help run the bathing sessions, drive minibuses and/or assist with day trips and social events, please contact the Divisional Superintendent/Area Co-ordinator, Pamela Fitzgerald, on tel 023 9226 5809 – she looks forward to hearing from you.  Full training is provided and no previous experience is needed.

Thank you to everyone involved with this special community service and thank you for your hospitality today.

 

 

13 December; Visit by our Honorary Aldermen

To ensure that our Honorary Aldermen had the opportunity to view the recently completed Public Service Plaza, I extended an invitation to each of them to join the Council Leader, Tony Briggs, Hazel and myself in order that we could give them a guided tour and explanation of the facilities, followed by light refreshments in the Mayor’s Parlour.

We very much appreciated their company and comments; thank you for your continued support.

13 December; Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Today Hazel and I were delighted to meet the remaining local elite gentlemen who each gained their DoE Gold Awards in 1960.

Some 52 years later these veterans are still proud of their achievements and relate many  interesting tales of their accomplishments. They still remain good friends who completed their DoE programmes together – longstanding friendships are special, I believe.

As you may be aware, the DoE Award for Boys was established and chaired by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956.

In 1958, the first Gold Awards were achieved. Also in this year the DoE Award for Girls was piloted, as Pilot Projects were started in 11 Commonwealth countries.

In 1987 the 100,000^th Gold Award was presented.

In 1989 the number of young people starting DoE programmes since 1956 exceeded 2 million.

You will appreciate, it was a privilege and honour to meet these fine gentlemen who attained their DoE Gold Awards all those years ago.

They mentioned that they are more than willing to assist and encourage local young people currently completing their DoE programmes so if interested in taking up their generous offer, please contact John Reid via email johnandcarolinereid@talktalk.net

Thank you, gentlemen, for an interesting and informative time.

12 December; Police Awards

Local police officers who, during the past year, have carried out their duty in such a full and diligent manner, were formally acknowledged today for their positive and varied achievements.

It was a privilege to be invited to present these deserving and dedicated police officers with their well earned Awards – congratulations to each of you.

Thank you for your “extra special” contribution in making our area a safer place for our community.