This weekend is the second one of the 2016 Emsworth Arts Trail. We started by visiting six artists exhibiting at The Brookfield Hotel, then we drive around others on the Trail. What talented people there are in The Borough. From jewellery makers, to those working in wood and painters of every genre.
It seems the Trail is busier each year, with hundreds of people visiting the different artists.
Our second invitation of the day was to open the new Costa Coffee in High Street, Emsworth.
On a sunny day with a Jazz Band playing outside, we were pleased to cut the ribbon, to open the new 68 seater Costa. With it’s leaflets about tourism and the Community Room, it will I am sure be a welcome addition to Emsworth.
We did enjoy cutting the ribbon to open The Rock Project in Waterlooville this morning. The first one in Hampshire, this allows young people to learn to play guitar or drums in the first part of the lesson. Then in the second half they join in and play with a band.
We played the drums! Electronic ones that I had never seen before. Great fun for us both.
This evening Andy and I hosted a thank you drink and nibbles party in The Parlour. We wanted to thank those people from local organisations who had supported us in my Mayoral year.
We were pleased to welcome guests from the Havant and Hayling Lions, H.I.A.D.S, and the Hayling Horticulteral Society. Without these selfless people our year would have been the poorer and we are very grateful to them. We all said how quickly the last year has gone and how much we had enjoyed it.
It was a great pleasure for us to open the Stride Centre In Denvilles today. Unveiling a plaque in the building and planting a tree in the garden.
The Centre built by David Wilson/Barratt’s was erected instead of S106 contributions being paid to HBC for the Nursery Fields/Copseys Nursery development.
It is a lovely building which will be well used by local residents and Community Groups.
This evening, Andy and I along with Councillor Mike Fairhurst, were invited to learn CPR at a session with the cadets of St. John’s Ambulance in Havant.
The St John’s Ambulance have already taught the Mayors of Fareham and Gosport this year and we were very pleased to learn as well.
It is good to know that should the need arise, we would hopefully have the knowledge to keep someone alive until an ambulance arrived.
This evening we were happy to attend the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire South East Area Cheque Presentation Evening.
Over 30k was presented to a number of charities by Lodges from across the area. Individual Lodges decided how monies raised should be spent, giving pleasure to many small and large charities.
Organised by the Hayling Island Tree Wardens, it has become a tradition for each Mayor of Havant to plant a tree on Hayling Island. This morning it was my pleasure to plant a New Horizen Elm in Hayling Park. I will be able to visit “my tree” and hopefully watch it thrive.
This afternoon Andy and were honoured to attend a Thanksgiving Service at Winchester Cathedral for Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th Birthday. It was a wonderfully patriot service with music from both HM’s wedding and Coronation.
All the Mayor’s and Chairmen from across Hampshire were in attendance for what will be the last Civic Service for us in our Mayoral year.
We were delighted to join our friends at the Havant Lions Club for their 51st Charter Night. Held at the Brookfield, it was attended also by a table of our friends from the Hayling Lions.
During this my Mayoral year, the Lions have been a great support to us. Both financially and in helping us distribute our Community Chest. Their time is given freely to support good causes and I consider myself honoured that I have had their help this year.
The Bedhampton Social Hall Association invited us to their Big Celebration Tea Party this afternoon.
With a theme of red, white and blue, we were pleased to join the party and very much enjoyed the afternoon. Cllr Ken Smith arrived and sat with us throughout  the festivities.
There was music, and a magician and we all joined in with the  singing. We were served a lovely tea and I judged the Hat competition and presented the prizes.
This morning we enjoyed the family fun day at Waterlooville arranged by The Waterlooville Business Association.
As this was to celebrate Her Majesties 90th Birthday, Andy and I decided we would join in the fun by wearing red,white and blue.
We were met by the Waterlooville ATC, who were very smartly turned out. Andy much enjoyed using their Flight Simulator. I think they had to close Heathrow after his crash landing though.
We met firemen from Waterlooville who were fundraising by running/walking from Horndean to Southsea. Wearing B.A. and carrying ladders they were obviously fit young men.
This evening Andy and I were pleased to attend the reopening of The Barley Mow on Hayling Island after it’s extensive refurbishment.
As well as the Carvery for which it is well known, they now provide a range of Pizza’s and Burgers. With a salad bar as well, it is looking fresh and up to date and it was packed for the first night’s business since the rebrand. The meals were good value and cooked to order. The Carvery now has four different meats and numerous vegetables.
I am sure they will do very well with both local residents and holiday makers.
What a wonderful morning Andy and I have had today. We attended the ninth St Georges Day Parade in Emsworth, where serving soldiers from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery marched with Veterans along the High Street. In addition today is the occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday, so the crowds sang Happy Birthday to HM and sang the National Anthem.
The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth joined us today as our guest as we in the Havant Borough hold celebrations for St Georges Day whereas Portsmouth did not.
Music was provided by a Pipe Band for the march and The George Regis Jazz Band in The Square.
Andy and I were pleased to entertain Patrick, Peter, Robert and Brian, the gentlemen who so kindly help organise The Classic Car Rally, to tea in The Parlour today.
Over a delicious cream tea, we discussed the recent Rally and the success it had been. Although attracting the highest ever attendance, we are still collecting sponsorship from the attendees so do not have a final figure of the monies raised.
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