The Mayor of Merton blog

Farewell speech to council

2009-05-17T12:55:00.001-07:00

Well my year came to an end on Wednesday, and at the meeting they elected Cllr Nick Draper as my successor. I would like to to congratulate him on being elected. Being the outgoing mayor involved making a retiring speech to council and below is the speech I made in response to a resolution passed by council marking my year of office. I've had a great time but now its all over, and since standing down last Wednesday it has allowed me to get some much needed rest, and do things I haven't been able to do for a while!

The text of the speech is below

Mr Mayor, Deputy Lieutenant, Councillors, distinguished guests

Mr Mayor, firstly I would like to congratulate you on your election as Mayor.

Having known you for a number of years I know that you’ll make a fantastic ambassador for the Borough of Merton and will no doubt serve the borough with great distinction over the next year.

I also know that the mayoress Sheila will be an excellent support during your year in office.

You are now at the start of an amazing voyage of discovery, you will find out things you never knew before and learn a great deal about the Borough of Merton.

Serving as Mayor of the Borough has been a great privilege, and every day I have served in this role has been a wonderful honour.

The time went by in a flash, it seems like only yesterday I was on this dais making my acceptance speech, but let me say Mr Mayor it has been a remarkable year, and one that I’ve enjoyed immensely.

One year on, it’s been a very demanding year and I’ve probably spent the last few weeks of the mayoralty running on adrenalin, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Being mayor, you are not here to serve any sectoral or special interest, or show favour to any group but to act as a representative of Borough putting politics to one side and acting first and foremost for the London Borough of Merton and all its constituent parts.

It is the duty and responsibly of all of us to unite behind whoever this council chooses as mayor as the office of mayor is one that his here to serve the people of Merton.

Over the course of the year you also get to meet many amazing people, only last week we had the Merton Civic Awards and so many genuine examples of achievement by individuals and groups.

As a borough it is right we recognise service, many of them have never sought recognition for their work, they just get on with it and its right that we as a Borough give awards that recognise achievement.

Across Merton we have many unsung heroes and over the past year I’ve met hundreds over the past year, the foster carers looking after some of our most vulnerable children, the volunteers who spend 20 hours a week helping older people in a day centre, the scout leaders who run packs during the week, the charity fundraisers who devote themselves to raising funds that will have an impact on people lives. The list is endless and they deserve our genuine and heartfelt praise.

It is also why I’ve had over 25 receptions in the borough recognising service but also thanking them on behalf over of the borough. Over 400 people have visited the parlour this year and its right as Mayor that holding receptions was my opportunity to give thanks on behalf of the borough.

Mr Mayor, I also give thanks to the extraordinary generosity of people in the borough, thank you to everyone her who has supported my charity events, both The Wimbledon Guild and The Vine Project will benefit greatly and to the tune of over £45,000. This is an incredible total especially in these economically difficult times that we face today.

Some of the events have also been incredibly fun, the Valentines Ball on my birthday was a particular highlight and it was certainly a birthday party to remember but one that was incredibly successful in raising money which will make a real difference to people lives.

St Patrick’s Night was also a highlight as I am particularly proud of my Irish background, and of course we celebrate in style! We are a borough of many different cultures, races that all in our own contribute in our own way to make Merton such a diverse community and over the past year I have had the opportunity of celebrating a number of different events from the numerous communities we have her in Merton.

Also as well I could not the let the moment pass without mentioning winning the New Years Day Parade along with a cheque for £7,500 to the charities with our Winter Wonderland float celebrating our green and open spaces. When it was announced that Merton had won it was a moment to savour, and one of the very great moments of the year. To win from 22 showed that in Merton we have the capacity to get things done, and to put together a remarkable entry involving over 50 people was quite an incredible achievement. To Cllr Geraldine Stanford who co-ordinated the entry thank you, for Cllr Linda Kirby who wrote Winter Wonderland music with its very catchy chorus song and everyone who supported the entry including children from Wimbledon Chase school who did the vocals. The day itself may have been cold but winning more then made up for it, and yes I greatly enjoyed the bragging rights that came with winning.

In Merton we also have some incredible schools, and they also provided some of the highlights of the year. Testing out the water at the opening of the new beach facility at Liberty along with the then Head of Liberty, Chris King was certainly one of the more memorable moments. Earlier today my last engagement was at Joseph Hood where they performed a concert, in a way it was quite a poignant moment, a fitting way to end the year but going to schools has been uplifting and inspiring, and having gone to over 40 schools in the borough it has taught me a great deal but also allowed me to see all the amazing work that goes on, along with seeing so many talented children. The recent Music is for Life concert at the Royal Albert Hall was a particular highlight of the year

Sport is also one of my passions, and as mayor it was a great highlight to raise the Olympic flag at the Beijing handover last year. More recently the success of AFC Wimbledon has been fantastic and its great to see what has gone on at the club over the past seven years, hopefully for you Mr Mayor will see AFC Wimbledon regain its rightful place in the football league, now that will be a celebration to remember!

Now the mayoralty is only a success due to a number of people, and I have many people to thanks.

My deputy, Cllr Krysia Williams and her consort Grenville. Over the past year you have provided great support and have helped immensely in undertaking over 100 engagements throughout the year. I have valued your advice and you have made a fantastic Deputy for the borough, and I value greatly the work when I’ve been unable to perform mayoral duties.

To Hilary Gullen, my secretary thank you for all your work over the past year, for your efficiency, your advice and giving that support in enabling me to undertake the role. Sometimes I may have been a bit stressed out, but you were always fantastic in reassuring me and getting things done.

For Carl Brown; my attendant, chauffeur, photographer and for the numerous other tasks that you perform with such dedication and commitment. While Mayors come and go each year, Carl provides that continuity, indeed it’s probably fair to say that he is better known throughout Merton then the Mayor, his good humour has been welcome along with his support. It has also not been easy for him either as over the past year he has collected me from just about every station in Merton as I’ve spent my time shuffling between work and undertaking mayoral duties, I am ever so grateful and owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Paul Bateman, Member Services Manager for providing support to the mayoral office and for his helpfulness throughout my mayoral year.

I would also like to thank Carol and Steve Vincent who have provided support to the mayoral office.

To Sir John Wheeler, DL for Merton for your service on behalf of the borough, but also in ensuring that all the Royal visits went very smoothly.

Can I also thank the town crier, Peter Moore, unfortunately Peter suffered a very minor heart attack at the weekend, and I’m sure I speak for all in wishing him a speedy recovery.

My consort and mother for being there along with being such great support, also Catherine O’Neill for attending engagements with me I hope you’ve enjoyed the experience as much and also my ward colleague, Zenia Jamsion. I think we’d all agree that we’ve had some fun moments along the way.

Finally, my thanks to all the councillors, chairing council meeting is never the most memorable of experiences but I would like to thank all of you for your conduct throughout the year. I may have been tough at times but fair as I believe its important as mayor to show impartiality in chairing meetings. Can I also thank you for the many kind remarks from members of all sides, I am deeply touched.

Mr Mayor, at the end of the year I am proud to have served as 44th Mayor of Merton, and to have serve the people of Merton as its Mayor.

Stand fast in honour and strength.

Bowing out

2009-05-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

One day left! and by this time tomorrow I will be the past Mayor of Merton. It has been a remarkable and an amazing year, I have enjoyed every moment and having the opportunity of serving the people of Merton has been a great privilege. Tonight I spent finalising my farewell speech to council, not the easiest of tasks but one that has one to be done. A great year and one that I'll remember for a long time to come.

Merton Civic Awards

2009-05-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

Last week as mayor I hosted the first ever Civic Awards ceremony at the Civic Centre in Morden.

The Civic Awards were established to recognise achievement in the borough by groups and individuals who had made a difference to the borough. Over 60 applicants applied and last week we awarded a number of awards to groups and individuals including winners and highly commended. This included the presentation of the Young Person's Award, the Community Contribution Award, the Community Group Award and the London Borough of Merton Award for outstanding achievement.

Among the winners of the awards included Oyeronke Oyerinde a year 6 Cranmer school who won the young person's outstanding achievement for writing 'Its a Beam' for the 2012 Olympics which was performed at the council meeting in September, and across Merton. Also rewarded was Paul Strank, a businessman who has contributed a great deal to the borough in charitable work, but also a major benefactor of AFC Wimbledon. Our main award, The London Borough of Merton award was won by Jessie Waldron, who has worked tirelessly at St Raphael's Hospice for over twenty years and has been an active volunteer.

The event itself was extremely successful and was followed by a reception in the Mayor's Parlour.

AFC Wimbledon Civic Reception event

2009-05-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday I held a very successful reception for AFC Wimbledon at the Civic Centre attended by over 100 people. At the reception I presented to the president of the club, Dickie Guy a framed certificate with the mayoral seal celebrating their achievement in being promoted to the conference. The trophy was also paraded from the balcony at the Civic Centre in Morden. It has been a great year for AFC, and as mayor ir has been a great honour to hold a reception in their honour and to have had the opportunity to celebrate their considerable success over the past year.

AFC Wimbledon Civic Reception

2009-05-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

Details of the AFC Wimbledon Civic Reception which I am hosting at Merton Civic Centre in Morden on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Fans will be able to see their favourite players as they step out onto the Civic Centre balcony proudly holding their trophy up high for all to see.

Merton Council celebrates AFC Wimbledon's success
01 May 2009

Merton Council is to host a party next week (5 May 2009) to celebrate AFC Wimbledon's promotion to the Blue Square Conference Premier League, the team's fourth promotion in seven years.

Merton's Mayor Councillor Martin Whelton will welcome the club to the Civic Centre in Morden where a reception will be laid on to congratulate the team on this major achievement.

Fans will be able to see their favourite players as they step out onto the Civic Centre balcony proudly holding their trophy up high for all to see.

This latest celebration follows the official opening of a permanent memorabilia exhibition at Morden Library last year when treasures from the team's glory days were unveiled by legendary Wimbledon FC stars Dave Beasant, Roy Law and Lawrie Sanchez. Specially-designed glass display cases in Morden Library house many items including a miniature FA Cup from 1988, the football from the first game played by Wimbledon FC following the club's 1977 promotion to the Football League, archive photography, and match programmes.

Mayor of Merton Councillor Martin Whelton said: "This is marvellous news for the team and for Merton. The players should be proud of their hard work to achieve such a promotion. AFC Wimbledon is a team built on passion for football and the cultural importance of Wimbledon Football Club. It was wonderful to see players and fans, old and new here last year when the FA Cup came to Merton and Wimbledon FC's memorabilia was given its rightful home within the borough. I congratulate the team for their fantastic achievement and wish them even more success in the future."

AFC Wimbledon president Dickie Guy said: "I am ecstatic at the team's performance. We had a great day on Saturday after winning the final game of the season. All our loyal fans came out to party with us. With a fan base like ours we can't go wrong. The support we have from them spurs us on to perform better and better. I'm looking forward to next season now with more wins and who knows, more promotions."

Morris men on Wimbledon Common

2009-05-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

May Day saw a very early start with the Greensleeves Morris Men having their annual morris dancing on Wimbledon Common to celebrate the start of the summer season. The event itself takes place at 5.30am in the morning, a very early start and takes place in front of the windmill on the common. The event itself saw a variety of different morris dances, with some dating back hundreds of years. It was wonderful to see, especially with the mist rising over the common. Following the display I was treated to an excellant full english breakfast where poems and songs were sung. All in all it was a very traditional event but a great way to see in May, and the summer season which is nearly upon us!

Coming to an end

2009-04-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that my time in office is coming to an end in just over two weeks time. It has been a wonderful year to date, and before I leave office I have a packed schedule ahead with many different functions to attend, along with duties to peform. This includes the Merton Civic Awards on 6th May, but also hosting the reception for the victorious AFC Wimbledon team. It has been a fantastic year, and I've emjoyed myself immensly in undertaking the role, it may be tiring at times but it has been a great honour. The time for goodbyes is not far away but its certainly a year I'll never forget.

St George's Day celebrations

2009-04-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

In Merton, I celebrated St George's day with two events. The first event of day was a ceremonial hoisted the St George's flag flag at the Civic Centre. This was the first time that this had happened, as I believe as mayor it was important to recognise the day by flying the St George's flag alongside the union jack.

In the afternoon, I hosted a St George's day tea attended by 120 people in the New Horizons Centre in Pollards Hill. The hall had been wonderfully bedecked in flags and balloons, and it was a fantastic sight to see. The afternoon included entertainment from the Avalon Theatre group who performed various singalongs which got many people singing along to all the old tyme favourites. Also a performance of morris dancing took place which included people from all generations. Children and adults also read various poems which also included readings from Shakespeare, whose birthday and death took place on St George's. It was all very English but what was so refreshing was that many people from all generations came along with people from other backgrounds. It was also a fantastic community event, and the work that the volunteers did to make the day such a great success was greatly appreciated by myself. It is fantastic to see such a great community effort take place, and it was a very memorable afternoon.

Today, I also took the salute at the St George's Day scout parade in Wimbledon which saw over 700 children and young adults took part. The parade concluded with a packed service at the Sacred Heart church in Edge Hill with various different groups reciting the pledge. It was fantastic to see, and my thanks goes to the organisers for making it such a wonderful occasion.

AFC Wimbledon being crowned champions

2009-04-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well it turned out to be a day to remember at Kingsmeadow with AFC Wimbledon clinching the Blue Square South, and winning promotion to the Conference. The match itself saw a convincing 3-0 win, but the real celebrations took place afterwards when Wimbledon captain Jason Goodliffe was presented with the trophy, sparking off jubilant scenes. Attending AFC matches as mayor is always a great experience, and the fans are very welcoming. The achievements of the club this season, and over the last seven years is nothing short of remarkable, and it really is a fantastic achievement. As mayor it has been a great honour supporting AFC in their work, and also the team.

I will be, as mayor hosting a Civic Reception for the team at the Civic Centre in Morden. It will be an opportunity to thank the team and everyone associated with AFC for their efforts over the last season. It promises to be a great celebration, and the team deserves it as well.

Merton Music is for Life Concert

2009-04-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

Although it took place a few weeks ago, I recently attended the Merton Music is for Life Concert at the Albert Hall which included over 1,000 singers from 23 primary schools in Merton. Also at the concert were various Merton Youth musicians performing in orchestras and bands, who performed various ensembles and different musical styles including jazz, samba, popular and classical pieces including 1812 Overture from Tchaikovsky. For the second half we were treated to a specially composed musical piece called The Journey about immigrants from various parts of the world coming to this country, and celebrating the wide range of different cultures who have made this country their home, along with the circumstances that many different groups endured when they arrived here.

My thanks for the night goes to all the staff at Merton Music Foundation for putting on such a fantastic event, and allowing so much of our youth to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, an experience that they'll remember for many years to come. It is also remarkable the amount of talent that we have in Merton schools, and it's something that I've seem first-hand during my visits to schools across Merton over the past year, everyone involved performed admirably and are a credit to Merton along with their outstanding performance at the concert.

AFC Wimbledon

2009-04-14T11:36:00.001-07:00

Over the past few weeks I have attended two AFC Wimbledon matches in my capacity as Mayor. Currently AFC are top of the Blue Premier South league, and with two games remaining are three points in the lead. If they draw at Hampton on Saturday they'll clinch promotion to the Conference, and will only be one division off from re-entering the league. Yesterday I attended in a private capacity the away fixture at Bromley where unfortunately we were robbed by bad sportsmanship, along with a goal that throws out the window the fair-play rulebook. If we had won, it would've only required a draw from our final two matches, still we're still very well placed for promotion.

The rise of AFC Wimbledon is nothing short of remarkable, given what happened to Wimbledon which now brands itself 'MK Dons' but is really nothing to do with the history of Wimbledon. The club is run by a supporters trust, who have built the club up from scratch to be the current success it is today. Each year brings renewed success, and they also have one of the best support of any non-leagues sides (not many can boast average attendances of over 3,000 per match). All the players have been done a fantastic job this season and hopefully they'll complete the job by getting the result at Hampton.

Mayors visit to Wimbledon

2009-04-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

Today I was joined by over 15 Mayors from across London and Surrey for a tour of the All England Club(Wimbledon tennis). The tour itself saw a guided tour around the ground, including the Broadcasting Centre, Henman Hill, Millennium Building, No1 court along with a visit to the museum which is where all the main winners trophies are on display. The only disappointment is that we were unable to visit Centre Court which is still closed due to development for the new retractable roof which will be in use for the first time at this years Wimbledon Championship.

Visiting Wimbledon is always a great experience, I have been lucky enough as mayor to visit on a few occasions, but also hold my charity ball at Wimbledon. Last summer I also formally visited the championship on the first day, along with going to the Men's Final. The venue itself has been transformed over the past fifteen years, with first the No1 Court development, Millennium Building and now the roof over Centre Court, along with a new court no 2. In Merton we're also extremely lucky to have a great sporting venue within out boundaries. It was a very enjoyable day, concluded by a fantastic lunch,and it was great to have so many mayors from across London visit Wimbledon, the jewel in the crown of our borough.

Irish Night

2009-03-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I held an extremely successful Irish Night at the Irish Centre in Wimbledon attended by over 150 people. This was a night of music and dancing with a band led by Mary Farrell, who has provided the entertainment for the Mayor's Irish night for many years.

It was also fantastic to have such great support from across the borough, but especially in the Irish community. The previous Tuesday I had attended the St Patrick's Night at the centre, and it was great to see so many people coming together and celebrating.

Being of Irish descent I am also immensely proud of my Irish roots, but also everything that the Irish community have achieved in Merton, many of whom, like my own parents came to this country back in the fifties and sixties to seek a better life. I also think it's important that the Irish community can come together and be proud of the identity and background; expressing it music and dancing is one way of doing this!

It was a great night, and thanks to everyone who helped make the night a great success.

Duke of Gloucester Visit to Merton

2009-03-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

This morning Merton had a royal visit from the Duke of Gloucester who visited Bishop Gilpin School (which is celebrating 250 years) and Southside House in Wimbledon. At the school itself we had a performance from children at the school that displayed their musical talents; followed by a re-enactment of the history of the school performed by children at the school. This was one of the first schools established in London, and established at a time when there were few schools in existence. The children were a credit to the school, and afterwards I also met many of them in their classroom where they asked a number of questions about my role as Mayor, but also about my chain. To conclude the visit a stone was unveiled by the Duke to celebrate 250 years of the school, and also all the children joined hands round the school while singing 'Reach for the Stars'

Following on from this we had a reception and tour of Southside House (one of the most historic houses in Merton), it also has wonderful gardens and one of Wimbledon's hidden gems. Also at the reception were a number of representatives from both my charities and from the voluntary sector in Merton. It was great to be able to thank them for all their efforts, and also allow themselves the opportunity to talk about their work to the Duke of Gloucester.

Mayor of Merton Ball

2009-02-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-02T08:06:00.001-08:00

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.

Death of the Mayor of Croydon - Cllr Jonathan Driver

2009-01-02T05:46:00.000-08:00

This morning I heard the very sad news that the Mayor of Croydon Cllr Jonathan Driver had died on New Year's Eve. During my time as mayor I had met Jonathan on many occasions and found him to be a great ambassador of Croydon, he had also attended charity events in Merton including a quiz night in September in which his team won. He was extremely competitive and we shared some friendly banter that night, but it was in a friendly nature and he was a person who had a great sense of humour. My deepest sympathies extend to all his family on their loss and may he rest in peace.

Merton wins 1st prize in New Year's Day Parade

2009-01-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well the New Year got off to a winning start with our entry in the New Year's Day Parade 'Winter Wonderland' winning 1st Prize and in the process winning The Let's Help London Challenge which all the 23 competing London borough's had entered. For my charities it has also meant winning a prize of £7,500 for my charities, along with a huge glass trophy which will have pride of place in the Mayor's Parlour. To say I am elated is an understatement, I thought we'd do well and get a prize but to come out on top is beyond my wildest dreams. This has to be possibly my best moment since becoming Mayor of Merton last May. In all twelve prizes were awarded and it was counted down from 12th, the award ceremony was for me very nerve wracking and when it was announced all the Merton party were overjoyed at our success.

I would like to thank each and every person involved in the winning Merton entry, I am so proud of everyone and what we have achieved today. Many hours of toil has gone into our success but all the work has been worth it and as a result both my charities; The Wimbledon Guild and The Vine Project will benefit as a result of winning 1st prize.

In terms of the Parade itself it was a fantastic day despite the cold weather, the marching bands from the States were brilliant along with many of the entries into the parade. The New Year's Day Parade is a great spectacle to welcome in the New Year and I would like to thank the organisers of the event for putting on such a wonderful and joyous occasion.

Please click her for a link to New Tube which is a film of the day and of our entry: http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLR_enGB283GB283&resnum=0&q=Youtube%20%2B%20Merton&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLR_enGB283GB283&resnum=0&q=Youtube%20%2B%20Merton&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv&st=day

Goodbye 2008, hello 2009

2008-12-31T11:30:00.001-08:00

Another year draws to a close in a few hours time, a year that for me has been a very rewarding one but also one that has gone in a flash. As I look back over the period since I become Mayor in May - I certainly have learned a great deal and have many great memories from 2008.

Anyway, tomorrow sees the dawn of 2009 and as mayor I am off to watch the New Year's Day Parade in London and also support Merton's entry in the parade which is themed around 'Winter Wonderland'.

The entry from Merton will be a spectacular one and will include a bike-riding reindeer will pulling a white sleigh carrying the snow king and queen who will be joined by snow people, elves, fairies, polar bears and two giant stilt walkers. It is all very colourful and hopefully it we will do very well as any prizes we gain go to my charities which are The Wimbledon Guild and The Vine Project.

My colleague and past Mayor of Merton, Cllr Geraldine Stanford has also done a fantastic job in co-ordinating the float, and getting so many people involved in our entry. I also have others to thank including Peter Walder from Abbey Mills, Russel Humphries from the Wimbledon Guild, Cllr Linda Kirby for putting together the the Winter Wonderland theme song(and fantastic to hear) and also everyone involved in putting together the costumes. I would also like to thank all the children involved in the parade which has included students of Wimbledon Chase school recording the Winter Wonderland theme song. Also as well to the countless number of people participating on behalf of Merton, at the last count it was 40+, my appreciation is extended to everyone involved.

It will be an exciting start to 2009, but one I am looking forward to despite the predicted freezing weather(at least the forecast is for dry weather!)My fingers are crossed for success tomorrow, but whatever the result I am very proud of the effort everyone has put in.

I hope everyone in Merton has a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2009!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

I would just to like to wish everyone in Merton a Merry Christmas, it is also the season of goodwill along with thinking of others and on Christmas Day I will be visiting St Helier Hospital in the morning, followed by a lunch in Mitcham parish church centre.

Merton Staff Excellence Awards

2008-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

On Thursday I attended the the Merton Staff Excellance Awards at Hilton Hotel in Croydon. The awards are an annual awards, and they are presented to the best teams in council departments, along with individual staff members'. Bring mayor you regonise even more the contribution staff make across the council, along with their dedication and commitment to the council. This event is also an oppurtunity to thank them for their work and service to the council, along with rewarding teams for their excellance. I enjoyed the event immesley and the awards are richly deserved.

Ricards Lodge & specialist arts status

2008-11-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

Over the last month I've been at Ricards Lodge School in Wimbledon for three seperate events, the most recent being the award of specialist school status for the arts. To celebrate this award, they had a celebration event at the school last Tuesday which included a performance of Shakespeare, Charleston dancing and an egyptian dance performance with recycled dresses to the Bangles hit 'Walk Like an Egyptian'. The event was a brilliant perfomance, and my congratulations goes to the head Alison Gerrard and all her staff on achieving this status, they also managed to raise £50,000 in sponsorship which is no-mean achievement. The students are also a credit to their school, and I thought their performances were outstanding, indeed it would put many of the X factor constestants' to shame!

Lord Mayor's show

2008-11-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

My congratulations goes to the new Lord Mayor of London, Ian Luder on becoming the new Lord Mayor. On Saturday, I attended the Lord Mayor's show which despite the torrential rain, was a very colourful and lively procession through the streets of London. The sheer diversity of the floats, along with the various themes makes it a such a wonderful and joyous occasion in the London calendar.

Fireworks display

2008-11-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

Recently I was at both the firework displays at Morden Park on 1st November and Wimbledon Park on 5th November. Both were pretty amazing, and my appreciation goes to the Council officers who ensure that Merton has one of the best displays in London. The Morden Park event was a bit of a washout due to torrential rain but even in those adverse conditions was great to watch, and the firework certainly lit up the night sky and made it a night to remember. I also 'won' a number of teddy bears at the fun fair which was held alongside the fireworks, currently they're sitting in the Mayor's Parlour and will be raffle prizes at my next charity event, as mayor you certainly build up a collection of teddies some of which are pretty big!

Remembrance Sunday

2008-11-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, I attended and laid a wreath as Mayor of Merton at remembrance services that took place at The Nelson Hospital and Mitcham Cricket Green. The day itself was very poignant, and in parts moving as we remembered all those who fought for our country in both wars in order that we enjoy the freedoms we have today, but also remembering all those who have lost their lives in more recent conflict across the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

At both services it was encouraging to see the number of people that turned up to remember those who had died serving their country, including the large number of young people attending. At Mitcham it was thought to be the largest turnout of people for many years. We also had the army cadets', air cadets, sea cadets' and the scouts in attendance and they all played an active role in the services.

I would also like to give a special thanks to the Royal British Legion for their support, along with the invaluable work that they do each year on behalf of ex-service families who benefit from the poppy appeal. They make a significant contribution in regonising those who have served our country and in giving them suppport.

The day ended with lunch at the new Territorial Army centre in Morden which was opened by Princess Anne recently. Many of the Territorial Army Unit had also served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan and were involved in the main cenotaph commemoration in Whitehall.

On Tuesday, I will also be participating in the Armistice Day service at the Civic Centre in Morden which will take place at 11 and will mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.

London mayors' civic service

2008-10-19T12:20:00.002-07:00

Earlier today I attended the annual London Mayors' civic service at Westminster Abbey. At the service, nearly all the mayors of London come together fully robed and in their regalia - it's certainly a sight to see and one that normally only happens once a year. The service also sees the mayors processing into the Abbey, behind their mace bearer.

At the service we had a number of hymns and psalms, sung by the wonderful choristers' at Westminster Abbey along with an excellent sermon by the former Bishop of Norwich, Rt Rev Peter Knott. Westminster Abbey is London's most historic church and going there makes you appreciate even more the historical significance of this great church, along with the role it has played over the centuries.

2008-10-19T12:20:00.001-07:00

Wimbledon Guild annual meeting

2008-10-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had the great pleasure of attending the annual meeting of the Wimbledon Guild last Tuesday at Drake House Wimbledon. The Guild is one of my chosen charities for my mayoral year, and does a huge amount of good work within Merton, along with helping many of those in need. The range of activities they undertake is vast, but includes small grants to those in need, or have fallen upon hard times; it may be a washing machine, a school uniform, an over but through these grants they've helped innumerable people in Merton. Likewise they provide a daily luncheon club for older people, along with providing a range of activities like keep-fit, art groups', needlework, music groups; the list is endless. They have also opened a state of the art family therapy suite in the last year which received lottery funding, and is an excellent resource.

My thanks goes to their chief executive, Russel Humphries, but also to their chair, Sheila Dunman who has just taken over from Adrian Barnes, chair for the past four years'. At the event, I made a presentation to Adrian Barnes, for being chair but also to Ron Goddard, the retiring treasurer. We are extremely lucky to have such a successful charity in Merton that does so much good for the people living in the borough. Their AGM was not just a meeting, it was also an exhibition of various voluntary groups in the borough, only when you're mayor do you truly recognise the invaluable role that the voluntary sector plays in the Borough and how their importance in providing services in the community, or in helping people. Like the Wimbledon Guild, their contribution is immeasurable.

Charity dog night

2008-10-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Last week I held a highly-successful dog night attended by over 80 people. The Dog night is a long-running charity event that the Mayor of Merton has organised every year, it was a night of great fun and enjoyment though sadly I did not have too many winners' on this occasion. At the event was a number of mayors from across London (or as we say in mayorspeak - the chain gang), it is quite a display when so many mayors' turn up at an event but it was great to have their support. All of the money raised from the night will all go towards my two chosen chairities - Wimbledon Guild and The Vine Project.

Trafalgar & CAMRA London pub of the year

2008-10-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I was delighted to visit The Trafalgar pub in South Wimbledon which has just become the CAMRA(Campaign for Real Ale)London pub of the year. This is a fantastic achievement, and my congratulations go to David and Karen who run the pub for winning this award. They will now go forward to the national competition and hopefully will win pub of the year for the whole country.

The Trafalgar is a small pub, but specalizes in serving many locally brewed beer's - indeed through it's diveristy of beer's it has attracted many people to the pub and this is no mean feat in a time when many small pubs are struggling to suvive. The pub itself is small, but compact and despite the limited space is very much a community pub. I can also testify that beer is excellant, and I would certainly recommend a trip to the pub. Further details are on the link below.

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/65/6588/Trafalgar_Freehouse/South_Wimbledon

Pearly Kings and Queens event

2008-09-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I attended the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Event in Guildhall. This is an annual event where all the Pearly Kings and Queens are wonderfully decked out in all their colourful shiny outfits. The event started witb entertainment outside the Guildhall with marching bands and music, followed by a harvest festival at St Mary-Le-Bow. At the start of the entertainment at Guildhall, the mayors had to all dance round the maypole which added to the fun of the occasion, along with probably one or two embarrassing pictures!

It was great to attend this event, Pearly Kings and Queens are part of the culture and tradition of London and it's create to celebrate that tradition, but also to give thanks for their charitable work. This includes the Whitechapel Mission near the city, which serves one of the most deprived communities in the whole of the UK along with giving support to homeless people. At the harvest festival each mayor also presents a hamper which goes to the Whitehchapel Mission - a very worthy cause and helping those most in need. It was also a long-time since I was last at a Harvest Festival, and it was great to hear all the traditional harvest hymns which brought back so many memories.

Merton Abbey Mills re-launch

2008-09-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

Merton Abbey Mills has to be one of the hidden gems we have in Merton. Since becoming Mayor of Merton, I have visited on a number of different occasions, and each time I've not been disappointed. This has included going to performances at the Colour House Theatre; launching the Abbeyfest(a festival that takes place over July and August each year, with a number of different cultural performances including music, theatre, dance and comedy); and more recently attending Kidsfest which had a range of activites aimed specificually at children, and also a ceremony which saw the London 2012 Olympic flag travel 2012 metres from Abbey Mills to the Civic Centre at Morden, where I raised the flag.

This weekend saw the re-launch of Merton Abbey Mills. In recent years, Merton Abbey Mills has seen a decline in numbers visiting, this has been due in part to large-scale site redevelopments, but also changing patterns of spending. The re-launch saw a number of different events laid one to entice people back to visit, including an international food stalls, along with music, and activities for children including a bouncy castle.

At weekends, Merton Abbey Mills has a large market, with a variety of different stalls, but with a special focus on arts and crafts, it also has a number of speciality shops which gives it a uniqueness that you can't find on the High Street. I hope, as well, that many people are enticed back as it's an excellent place to visit, and adds a great deal to the local area. You'll not be disappointed.

Merton Cultutal Olympiad launch

2008-09-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I launched the Cultural Olympiad at Wimbledon Park. This is a weekend of sporting and cultural activities taking place in the park, with opportunities for people to try out a range of different sports, alongside various musical and dance performances. At the launch, I tried out myself a variety of activities, including paralympic tennis(and I can tell you it was difficult), cycling on a bike to provide the energy to make a smoothie(called a Blendavenda), and also shooting penalties. All in all it was a fun day, I also met one of the Olympian Paralympians at the lake which is a magnificent facility we have in the park, and enables many children to undertake rowing,canoeing sailing and windsurfing. Although at first they experienced wind problems(no wind), eventually they abated and a regatta with many boats got underway, Sunday will see a dragon boat race on the same lake.

This is the start of a range of activities that will take place in the next four years in the run up to 2012, it's great that we've had these activities organised and my thanks as well goes to all the Council staff involved in the launch, alongside a number of partner organisations that the Council works with, from what I saw of the event was a great success.

Mitcham Little league

2008-09-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I attended the opening of the Mitcham Little League football which takes place every Saturday between September and March. Each Saturday over 200 children from 7-13 play football in a variety of different age-groups, seeing so many children participating is was extremely encouraging, sport is extremely important and it's fantastic to see so many involved. In starting the season I was introduced to all those involved along with kicking a ball to start the first game.

At the opening we also had a minutes silence followed by a minutes applause for David Nunoo who was a Mitcham little league coach who tragically died in the summer at the each of 28. At the Canons there is also a tribute site set up in his memory containing a number of football shirts, he is a great loss to little league.

I would also like to pay tribute to all the volunteers involved in the Little League including the coaches, referees and catering staff. Many put in a hours of work each week and it's great to see as well their enthusiasm and willingness to run Little League that benefits so many children each week in Mitcham.

Charity Quiz Night

2008-09-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

On Friday, I hosted a charity quiz night at The Hub in Mitcham. The event itself was attended by over 100 people including the Mayor of Croydon, Cllr Jonathan Driver and the Mayor of Kingston, Cllr David Berry. The night itself was great fun and as a result it raised hundreds of pounds from my chosen charities; The Wimbledon Guild and The Vine Project. As for my own team, alas we came third, not bad considering we had sixteen teams and we only five points behind the winning team which came from The Wimbledon Guild. This will be the first of many charity events that I'm hosting throughout my year, next month I have a dogs nights at Wimbledon Stadium along with a Golf Day at Wimbledon Park Golf Club. Further details are available on the website www.merton.gov.uk/mayor and if interested e-mail mayor@merton.gov.uk

Olympic handover and raising the flag

2008-08-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

With the flag being passed from Beijing to London at the closing ceremony, this was today replicated with the raising of a London 2012 flag at the Merton Civic Centre in Morden. The event started at Abbey Mills were it took place alongside the Kidsfest( a free festival aimed at children) which I opened prior to attending the flag handover ceremony at the Civic Centre. The London 2012 Olympic flag travelled 2012 metres to Morden, carried by a variety of community groups including Making Colliers Wood Happy, Deen City Farm and the winner of the London youth games girls cricket team. At the Civic Centre the flag was handed to me and I raised it up the flagpole. The event will be one of a variety of events taking place over the next few weeks, and will include the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in Wimbledon Park at the end of September, along with events to mark the closing of Paralympics in September.

It was a great honour to raise the flag, as hosting the Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity for this great city. With us winning 19 golds at the Olympics we should be very proud of all our Olympians who achieved so much in Beijing and exceeded all expectations. I also hope, as well, that it will inspire children to get involved in sport, we've achieved so much the past two weeks and along with hosting the games should be a huge motivational factor in taking up sport. The past two weeks have been fantastic, and London 2012 will be even better and already I'm excited even though it's still 1433 days to the opening ceremony.

Visiting schools

2008-07-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Over the last week visiting schools has been the most prominent engagement in the mayoral diary and in the last week I've visited eight schools across Merton. After all that you'd think I'd have had enough of going to schools, but nothing could be further from the truth, and I've found many of my visits to be both inspiring and in some cases even inspirational.

The events I've attended have varied, but include various prize givings and attending end of year productions. This year also see the first intake who've been at primary schools from reception to year six, this followed a reorganisation of Merton schools a few years ago which saw Merton move the age of transfer to 11. For many headteachers it's also an emotional time as they've now seen children coming in at 4 and leaving now, at 11, for secondary.

Many of the end of year productions I've seen have been first class, and it is clear hours of work have gone into them. Likewise the prize givings have been very rewarding, one child was given an award for 100% attendance from reception class to year six, 21 terms without missing a day of school, a quite remarkable achievement. Also as well, I have given out various prizes for achievement in schools be it in sport, music, IT, science, maths, english etc, but also awards for behaviour and attendance.

In many schools it is quite clear that the teachers have done a remarkable job, and I've found them to be both dedicated and committed to the education of their children. Likewise many parents have been very supportive of schools and have been present to share the success of their children. I hope both teachers and students enjoy a well deserved Summer break ready for another school year in September, my best wishes also goes to all those students transferring to high school in September.

Mitcham Eastfields station opening

2008-07-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, I attended the opening of the new Mitcham Eastfields Station in Mitcham - the first new to station to open in Outer London since the war. At the opening was various dignatries including the Minister, Tom Harris MP, Siobhain Mc Donagh MP, Council leader David Williams and councillors. Also in attendance was representatives from Network Rail, Southern, First Captial Connect and Tfl.

Although it was the official opening, the station has been operating now for over seven weeks. As a local resident, and someone who commutes to London for work I have found the station has made my journey to work that much easier, and quicker. I have also noticed the increased usage at the station, the 0807 which I catch regularly to work usually has over 100 people waiting to board, the station has certainly proved to be a great success in a short period of time.

With the new station, it has also put Mitcham on the map and made it much more accessible to the outside world. It has taken over 70 years' for the new station to happen, but at last it's here and making a real difference locally.

Ahmadiyya charity walk

2008-06-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was involved in charity walk organsied by members of Ahmadiyya community which is based at the Batul Fatuh mosque in Morden. The walk took place along the River Wandle ending at Wandsworth. Over 3,000 people took part,and they raised over £250,000 for charity, a quite phenomenal sum.

My mayoral charities(The Wimbledon Guild of Social Welfare & The Vine Project), also received a cheque of £3,500, a figure way beyond my expectations and I'm extremely grateful for their support and contribution. Many other charities also gained from the walk, including £30,000 for a well project in Africa which will provide running water to some of the most needy in the world, along with a whole host of other charities.

At the end of the day when the amounts were announced, I also made a speech at the Batul Futuh Mosque in Morden, with over 1,000 people present. What impressed me so much was their ability to work with a wide range of other organisations to raise money, and ensure that a number of different organisations benefit from their work. These events really bring people together, and many who took part came from across the country. My appreciation, as well, goes to the organisers and all those that took part, it was a wonderful day and raised a great deal so for charity.

Wimbledon tennis

2008-06-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

With today being the first day of Wimbledon tennis, I had the pleasure of being a guest in the royal box of Wimbledon. Having been a tennis fan for many years this was amazing experience, and a very memorable occasion. Thankfully the weather held(which is untypical of Wimbledon) and it was a glorious summer's day. The day itself included watching some great tennis, including another comprehensive performance from Roger Federer who cruised through to the second round. I also saw Ana Jackovic put on a performance that shows why she is the no 1 seed at Wimbledon. Also on display was Novak Djokovic, who ran out a 3 sets to 1 winner.

Being in the royal box gives you the best view in the house, and an brilliant vantage point to watch the tennis. Among the guests in the royal box was HRH Duke of Kent, HRH Duchess of Kent, Jackie Stewart and former Wimbledon champion, Richard Kraijeck. This year also seen the return of a roof to Centre Court, and the new retractable roof that will be ready for 2009 Championships is nearly in place. When finished the days of rain stopped play at Centre Court will come to an end.

The London Borough of Merton values its position as the host borough; its the largest sporting event held in Britain every year and while the influx of people does transform Wimbledon Village and causes some logistical issues, nevertheless, its part of our history and is a source of great pride to the Borough.

I would also like to thank the Chairman of the All England Club, Tim Philips for his hospitality and for making me so welcome. It was a great day, and a day I'll remember the day for a long time to come.

Summertime at the Royal Albert Hall

2008-06-16T15:06:00.001-07:00

This evening I attended Summertime at the Royal Albert Hall. This was a concert put on by various schools throughout London, including Bishopsford in Morden. At the concert the schools from throughout London put on a variety of different dances; in the case of Bishopsford it was street dance. Other schools performed dances that included salsa, bollywood, hip hop and ballet. After all the schools had performed, they all came together and performed Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin. This was a stunning display which included ballet, and was a rousing finale to the evening.

The performances in itself were amazing, and it was fantastic to see so many children having the opportunity to perform at The Royal Albert Hall. I've no doubt it will be a memory that will stay in their mind for ever, hopefully some will even go on to do even greater things in the course of time. The time and effort that went in to the performances is also worth mentioning, many have spent months preparing for this and I have to say it was a perfect 10 both for Bishopsford and for many other schools.

I also find it greatly rewarding that they've had the opportunity to perform dance, the activities add a great deal to the school curriculum and it's clear that many have gained a great deal from their participation in dance. Credit also has to go to their instructors who've helped them get to this level; their time and commitment has opened the door for many to get involved in dance and in performing on the big stage. The involvement of the English National Ballet and Imperial Society of Teaching of Dancing has also been of great benefit to those involved. It also shows that exam results are not everything, and that other activities can give children a very rewarding education. Tonight was a great enjoyment to watch and my congratulations goes to Bishopsford and others on such a fantastic performance.

Mitcham Carnival

2008-06-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I participated in the Mitcham Carnival and the parade from Figges Marsh to Three Kings Piece. The parade was an enormous success with many different floats, along with hundreds of people on the side of the road cheering the parade on. The Carnival itself is always one of the highlights of the mayoral year in Merton, and this year was no exception. At the end of the parade, I had to pick the winning float, and after careful consideration I chose Blue Starz, a dance and cheerleading outfit. They received a trophy, with the other participants all getting certificates.

At the Carnival itself, along with my consort for the day Catherine O'Neill, I visited various stalls along with meeting many different people in the course of the day. As happens on nearly any other mayoral engagement, my attendant Carl was busy taking photographs of the day; it is something I've got very used to in my month as mayor but it'll provide a great memento of my mayoral year when it's all over!

After a short visit to attend an environmental fayre in Wimbledon, I returned to present the prizes in the little league football competition. Mike Smith, manager of McDonalds Mitcham donated the trophies and he also supplied food, which was certainly appreciated by myself as finding time to eat is not an easy task in the course of the day. His generosity and commitment is greatly appreciated by myself.

In all, I would like to thank everyone involved in organising such a wonderful carnival, the mayoral office in Merton co-ordinates the carnival but it's a huge logistical operation to get everything right and ensure that it works properly. It was also a great joy to see so many people having such a good time and enjoying the day.

I feel exhausted, but I've certainly enjoyed myself today.

Mayoral reception at Morden Park house

2008-06-08T17:29:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night, I hosted a civic mayoral reception in the grounds of Morden Park House attended by over 200 people. Although I became mayor three weeks, Merton decided a few years ago to have a separate reception after the mayor making rather then have it on the same night. At the event were a variety of guests including Merton Council colleagues, officers, family, and friends along with people who have contributed to the Borough of Merton and have been of assistance to the mayoral office. The venue itself is beautiful, and even more so on what was the idyllic summer evening. The reception an ensemble from Merton Music Foundation, who performed a medley of music. I would like to thank everyone in the mayoral office for making the event such a success, it seemed from feedback that people had a good time and enjoyed the evening.

Merton Abbey Mills and Chapter House

2008-06-08T15:02:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I cut the cake on the 19th anniversary of the opening of Merton Abbey Mills as part of the Wandle Valley Festival. At Merton Abbey Mills, a weekly market takes places and also has with a variety of niche shops with many specialist arts and craft shops. Each weekend, many come from a wide area to sample the areas delights. It is also home to the Colour House theatre(a small theatre that seats 70), where both children shows and classical music events takes place on a regular basis.

However, the best part of the day was been shown the ancient ruins of the Chapter House which are located underneath Merantum Way, a road that runs through the site and was built in the eighties. Although I knew ruins existed, I never knew it was so readily accessible and that the area contained so much history. Indeed, it's amongst the most historic parts of Merton and certainly worth seeing, especially as many of the artifacts have been wonderfully restored. I enclose a link below giving more information about the site.
http://www.merton.gov.uk/leisure/history-heritage/heritage-sites/mertonpriory/merton-priory-chapter-house.html

Foster carers' reception

2008-06-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I attended a reception for Foster Carers at Cannizoro House in Wimbledon. The event was a thank you for foster carers' in Merton for their work in looking after children, and an opportunity for the council to thank them for their work.

From speaking to people at the event, the work of many foster carers' is pretty amazing. Many have literally fostered dozens of children over many years, with in many instances looking after children who have come from very challenging backgrounds, in some instance having suffered abuse and neglect.

One foster carer was given an award after 42 years a foster carer, a pretty amazing achievement, along with complete dedication in helping to make a difference to the lives of many children over so many years.

These people are in my view superstars. Many of them do it because they care a great deal and want to help. Although foster caring will never be amongst the most high-profile works the council undertakes(or receive the most publicity), it's of huge importance to the welfare of children, which is about the Council's most important responsibility. Likewise as a council, it's important to recognise their huge contribution and work in helping to transform the lives of many children. We also have foster carers' who provide respite care to parents who have children with special needs, giving them a break and helping to make the lives of those parents' easier.

The welfare of children is paramount and fostering is part of that process. I would also like to thank the work of the fostering team in their work in placing children sometimes at very short notice, but ensuring that they're safe and in secure backgrounds. It was fantastic to meet so many foster carers', and to hear about all their excellent work with children.

The international borough

2008-06-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I've attended three engagements' that involved different ethnic groups. Last night in my own ward of Pollards Hill, I was at an International Night attended by over 20 nationalities; each on their own way contributing to the event and many providing dishes from the own culture.

On Sunday I attended the 110th anniversary of Filipino Independence in Morden Park. At the event I made various people of Filipino descent, along with visiting various stalls of groups that has links with the Philippines. I found the event to be stimulating and a great opportunity to talk to people from the Philippines, along with tasting some wonderful Philippines ice cream. The event also had various acts on stage, each in their own way putting on some fantastic performances, including a very talented 11 year old singer. We have a lot to be thankful to people from the Philippines for, especially in our hospitals where they have provided so many nurses in our hospitals over many years.

Finally this evening, I attended a West Indian Families and Friends Association annual church service in Tooting. The theme of the event was healing, and the service itself was in many parts poignant and moving. A particular part of the service that stood out for me was the outstanding solo of Ave Maria by Harry Skeete. Also the sermon of Rev Dr Rosemarie Mallet, patron of the association, recognised the contribution of the West Indian community to the Britain, and the challenge they have faced.

In all, Merton is a truly diverse place with many different communities. Although I've been Mayor for nearly four weeks, in that time I've had the opportunity to meet different people from a range of different cultures. I believe that our diverse community contributes a great deal to our borough and is something that should be welcomed.

St Paul's and Civic Mass

2008-06-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

My last two mayoral engagements have been my civic mass which took place at St Michael's in Pollards Hill on Saturday and last night, the London Mayors' event at St Paul's Cathedral.

The Civic Mass was in the presence of my chaplain Father John and held at St Michael's Catholic church in my ward of Pollards Hill. The service itself had over 200 people in attendance with many friends, family along with civic office holders'. The Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth, Peter Dawson was also present. At the end of the mass ,I was presented with a bible by the parish of St Michael's to which I am eternally grateful both for their goodwill and generoristy since becoming mayor. There help was invaluable in organising the mass. My thanks as well goes to the Mayors' office for their work in organsing the events logistics and the catering.

Last night, I also attended the London Mayors' Association service at St Paul's followed by a reception at Mansion House hosted by the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of London. At the service itself, it was wonderful to hear the outstanding choristers singing along with the wonderful range of music that was played. Being in St Paul's it's hard not to to admire the awe inspiring architecture of Sir Christoper Wren in what is one of the greatest churches in the world.

Afterwards, I also had my first opportunity to meet many of the new mayors' in London and to share experiences about our brief time in office, along with plans for the forthcoming year. I have also discovered in the past few days that the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Andrew Johnson is even younger then me at just 28.

My first week as mayor

2008-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

Having been the mayor for the last eight days, it has certainly been an interesting week, even though I've had a relatively small number of engagements. Getting used to, as well, the various protocols of being mayor has also taken some getting used too.

Since I last blogged, I have undertaken a further three engagements. On Saturday, I attended a CIA basketball event at Canons(and no it's not the American CIA, but a christian organisation), this was a large festival bringing young people together with a christian ethos. I saw plenty of slam dunking, and various other maneuvers. It also involved going into the middle of the court and addressing the crowd.

Sunday, saw a visit to Charlton Park House in Greenwich for an event organised by the outgoing Mayor of Greenwich. The house itself it one of the oldest examples of Jacobean architecture in London, along with having some absolutely beautiful gardens. It also afforded me my first opportunity to meet other newly-elected mayors' and to share experiences; over the next year meeting other mayors will be a regular occurrence. Although I don't know who all the newly-elected mayors in London, I was by far the youngest mayor at the event, I am certainly not your stereotypical mayor!

This morning, I launched the Stand up for Bullying campaign in the Merton Council chamber. The event involved a number of children from across Merton coming together as part of a nationwide campaign against bullying. At the event itself, the children all joined hands and said 'say no to bullying'. Initiatives like these raise awareness of these issues as bullying is unacceptable, and in many circumstances make children's lives very unhappy, along with causing great emotional stress. At the end of the event, I had my photo taken with various children from around Merton.

My next event is at Merton Adult tomorrow, and will involve presenting Certificate of Achievement awards. This morning I must have signed dozens of certificates for the event and I am looking forward to attending the event, as education has the ability to transform lives and adult education contributes to that along with allowing people to learn new skills.

Follies

2008-05-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to a performance by the Wimbledon Light Opera Society(I am now their vice-president) of Follies at the Seecombe Centre in Sutton. Although not a regular theatre goer, I found the performance extremely enchanting, and in parts very colourful. The work that goes into performances is pretty phenomenal and I understand that they rehearse for six months in the run up to the performance. It was an excellent night and I look forward to future performances.

Elected as Mayor of Merton

2008-05-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Finally I was confirmed earlier tonight as the new Mayor of Merton. The ceremony in itself was pretty nerve wracking, but it all went very well in the end. Of course being elected mayor means non-stop photographs, I don't think I've ever been photographed so much on one night. I was also dressed up in full regalia, complete with tricorn hat which made quite a picture, being in robes is not the most comfortable of experiences especially as the Merton Council chamber has no air conditioning. Still, it's part of the tradition. The council also elected Krysia Williams as my deputy mayor for the next year who I've no doubt will prove an excellant ambassador for the borough over the next year.

Tomorrow sees my first engagement at the Secombe Centre in Sutton and a performance by the Wimbledon Light Opera of Follies. It promises to be a busy year ahead.