Doris’s 100th Nov 15th

Later this afternoon we went to Elsie Fudge House in Crookhorn to attend the 100th Birthday celebrations for Doris Awcock.

With a young looking Doris

Doris has lived in the sheltered block for about 20 years, and still makes herself a cooked breakfast every day!

Surrounded by family and friends, and with an excellent spread to savour, Doris is a very alert and active centenarian and certainly does not look her age.

The communal room, where the gathering took place, had been decorated earlier in the day by her daughter, and her family had come from as far as Norwich to help her celebrate the occasion.

Corporal David O’Connor Nov 15th

This afternoon Elaine & I, together with the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, attended the funeral of Corporal David O’Connor, RM.

Corporal O’Connor was killed in Afghanistan and was given a full Military funeral.

This was one of the most moving funerals that I have been to.

May he rest in peace.

High School Concert Nov 14th

The annual Gala Concert of Portsmouth high School was held at Portsmouth’s Anglican Cathedral in Old Portsmouth.

Elaine was unable to accompany me on this occasion, so I was joined by the Deputy Mayoress, Jackie Buckley, at what was an excellent evening’s entertainment.

The Concert began with a Stevie Wonder medley performed by the Symphonic Band, and was followed by a very tuneful rendition of I Can Hear The Bells, from the musical Hairspray, sung by Ellie Jones.

There were also examples of choral singing, a Ukelele group, excellent Flute solos by Isobel Taylor and Alana Grady, and Vivaldi’s Concerto For Two Violoncellos performed by Katie Phillips and the school’s Head Girl, Bethany Garland.

The evening marked the departure of Angela Blackwell, who is leaving the school’s music department after 8 years to take up the post of Director of Music at Exeter’s Maynard School.