06 May Sunrise Sunset 2012

First launched in 2009 Sunrise Sunset sets out to get as many people on the water on a designated date between the hours of sunrise and sunset.  It is an annual fundraising event on behalf of Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research (W4CR) Registered Charity No 1128492.

Today the aim is to improve on last year’s fundraising event when over £50,000 was raised in addition to  a new record being achieved whereby 1200 windsurfers were on the water at noon in 35 different locations  in the UK and overseas, all fundraising for W4CR.

This year, Hayling Island is again one of the participating venues across the UK and Havant Borough Council  confirms its’ support to this annual event.

Normally the Mayor of Havant opens this annual Hayling event but as I’m unwell and am forbidden to be out in cold, wet, windy weather I was regrettably unable to attend; my Deputy, Gerry Shimbart, completed the honour on my behalf.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable time at this Sunrise Sunset fundraising event; shame there was no sun but I bet there was much fun.

06 May Falklands 30th Anniversary Service

To commemorate this historical occasion, a special Falklands 30^th Anniversary service was held this morning at St Thomas of Canterbury Anglican Cathedral, Portsmouth.

The “Harbour Mayors” representing Portsmouth, Fareham, Havant and Gosport were invited to attend and after a sincere service, the congregation and Civic Procession led by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan DCVO, JP paraded to the Falklands Memorial in Broad Street for wreath laying.

Once completed, wreath layers were invited to follow the Lord Lieutenant to the dais for the RM Band and veterans march past, from where the Lord Lieutenant took the salute.

Following the march past, everyone returned to the Cathedral for a reception in the nave.  I am SO disappointed that I was unable to don my robes for this special Falklands 30^th Anniversary service but as I’m unwell and am forbidden to be out in cold, wet, windy weather I was unable to attend; my Deputy, Gerry Shimbart, represented Havant on my behalf.