Mayor of Merton Ball

Last Saturday (Valentine's Day) saw the Merton Mayoral Charity Ball take place at the All England Club in Wimbledon. Over 130 guests' attended the ball, including 13 mayor's from across London. Also attending was a variety of other guests from across Merton. This is always one of the highlights of the mayoral year, and this year was no different. Apart from the wonderful food which a culinary delight, we also had Neil Long from Radio Jackie as the DJ for the disco afterwards which saw a number of us dancing the night away.

For me it was also my birthday on Saturday, so inevitably I had Happy Birthday sang to me along with a cake with candles. It was certainly one of the best birthday parties I've ever had, and one probably never to be repeated!

In terms of fundraising we raised over £4,000 for the mayoral charities; The Wimbledon Guild and The Vine Project. We also had a very successful charity auction conducted by Peter Walder from Merton Abbbey Mills who proved to be an absolutely fantastic auctioneer after stepping in at short notice. The raffle also raised over £1,000, and had some fantastic prizes.

All in all it was a great night, along with being a memorable and successful night. I would like to thank everyone who made it such a successful occasion.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Last week I attended the Holocaust Memorial Day service in Mitcham at Madeira Hall. During the event Jean Louis Mazimpaka - who survived the Rwandan genocide - and a Jewish Holocaust survivor shared some their experiences. Hearing both of them was extremely emotive, as was the Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild from Wimbledon Synagogue who talked about the experience of her brother, a rabbi visiting Auschwitz/Birkenhau memorial service, and his train journey. For the vast majority this was their last journey, and having visited in 2004 it is very emotional experience especially when you see the train tracks, along with their possesions. It also makes you realise the full horrors of the Holocaust along with the death of six million Jewish people and the many non-jews who died at the hand of the Nazi regime.

Before the service, along with a Holocaust survivor we planted a Peace Rose in the new Peace Garden.

Holocaust Memorial Day not only remembers all the victims of the Nazi regime but also all those who have died in more recent genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia as well as the current atrocities taking place in Darfur.

It is vital we remember the terrible events that have taken place in the past so that we ensure we learn important lessons for the future and work together to eradicate hatred, prejudice and discrimination in the borough.