Andy and I had the great pleasure today of attending this Drumhead service at Hayling Island RBL. Formerly the Normandy Veterans Association they have now merged with the Algerines and other service veterans for this annual service.
I read from John 15 verse 9-14, which is one of my very favourite bible readings and so apt for today’s service. “Greater love hath no man…………”
Last night along with other Mayors and Consorts, we had a lovely dinner in the Mayor of Fareham’s Parlour. The delicious meal served with the appropriate wines accompanying the courses, was enjoyed by all.
There was much laughter during the evening, we are so lucky to have the company of these members of our “Chain Gang” during our Mayoral Year.
Today with one of the HBC senior Councillors, I visited the Pfizer factory in Havant. We were asked to join two members of their staff in distributing the Havant Community Fund.
From the many applications, we were delighted to award funding to various organisations and good causes throughout the Havant Borough. A lovely way to spend a morning. It is very good of Pfizer to support some of our local Community Groups and charities.
Today we held the first planning meeting for Remembrance Sunday 2015.
Members of Havant and Hayling Island Royal British Legion attended along with Officers from several HBC Departments. Services will be held across the Havant Borough to remember those who have lost their lives in the service of our country. Always on the nearest Sunday to Armistice Day, this year it will be on Sunday 8/11/15.
Tonght along with Mayors and Consorts from Fareham and Portsmouth, we attended the Senior Awards evening. The schools is rated excellent by Ofsted and the young ladies had a very good exam success rate. There are students in the school from our Borough which is why we had been invited.
The speaker was Chris Lubbe, an inspirational speaker who has been a bodyguard to Nelson Mandala fir 8 years. He spoke movingly of his childhood in South Africa during apartheid.
We had a very interesting day today joining The Mayor and Mayoress of Fareham’s Civic Day. Starting the day with refreshments in The Parlour, our first visit was to the NATS Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanwick. After lunch at Fareham College with various members of the Fareham Executive, we then visited the Warsash Maritime Academy where Andy enjoyed the demonstrations of the shipping simulators.
This weekend Havant Borough has had the pleasure of welcoming the National Watersports Festival to Hayling Island. In it’s 9th year, the NWF is the biggest and best Watersports Festival of it’s kind in the UK. All praise to Allan Cross who organises the NWF. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
We much enjoyed the opportunity of supporting the Rowans, our local hospice, on the day of their Summer Fete. On a lovely sunny day, hundreds of people arrived to visit the 60+ stalls. Thank you to the chairman of Trustees Ian Young, for looking after us so well.
There was great music from the Portsmouth City Band and Pompey Pluckers Ukulele Band.
Today we had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon to open the Dynamic Dance Studios in Leigh Park. Another new business opening in our Borough.
After 9 years of hiring studios across Hampshire and West Sussex, Emma Waters the owner is thrilled to be able to have a permanent home for her studio.
When Andy and I arrived there were many people waiting for the studio to be opened. It is I’m sure going to be a great success.
It is a tradition that each Mayor or Chairman of Councils across Hampshire holds a Civic Day and invites their opposite numbers. Today Andy and I held ours. Our theme was Leisure and Tourisim, and we had the difficult choice of limiting these to fill just the day.
We started at Waterlooville Leisure Centre with its new extension. It has a large multi equipment Gym, a large swimming pool, and my personal favourite, an inside play area called World of Play.
We then travelled to Hayling Island where we had a traditional fish and chip lunch at the Coastguard Cafe before a trip on the Seaside Railway. We had a short visit to the National Watersports Festival, when Alan Cross gave us a talk about this marvellous attraction. After this we went to Northney Farm where we rode in a tractor trailer to the Chichester Harbour AONB, a lovely view awaited us across the Harbour. Finishing with a Cream Tea at Northney Farm, our guests all agreed how much the Havant Borough had to offer visitors and residents alike.
What a wonderful evening we have had tonight at The Spring in Havant. The Dynamo Youth Theatre put on an all female production of the famous Shakespeare play. Funny and very entertaining, well done to the seven members of the cast and all involved in the production.
. 
Today I chaired an extraordinary Council meeting. Preceded by a Seminar which informed Members of all the details of the proposal, we then debated the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Devolution Deal. Authorities across Hampshire and the I.O.W are making a bid to Central Government seeking devolution, to gain greater control of the decisions that affect the residents and businesses whose interests we put first.
Our members unanimously voted for us to conduct further negotiations.
The Mayor of Havant's blog 