Archive for category: Dr Julie Llewelyn​ – High Sheriff of Surrey 2021-22

The Royal British Legion Surrey Poppy Launch at the Army Training Centre in Pirbright was a wonderful way to mark the appeal’s centenary and the start of fundraising.

Attending the event, Dr Llewelyn said: “It was a pleasure to gather to celebrate the Poppy Appeal, which is so vital to our servicemen and women’s wellbeing, and listen to the readings and reflections.”

She also congratulated Recruit Kirsty Williamson for her “outstanding musical contribution”. Rct Williamson sang ‘I vow to thee my country’ and is clearly destined for a remarkable career in the Corps of Army Music.

The Poppy Appeal launched in April 1921 and is unlike any other in terms of historical and moral significance for the UK.

Dr Llewelyn thanked Brigadier Evans and his team at the Royal British Legion in Surrey for all they do for their county.

Iman Hashmi and his wife Kawther, Faith Links Adviser at the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, kept Dr Llewelyn and her husband spellbound as they explained the history of the Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking.

The couple knew little about the UK’s oldest mosque and Surrey’s largest before their visit.  It was built in 1889 by Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, an enlightened British Jewish orientalist, educationalist and linguist from a Hungarian family. Sadly, Leitner died before he could fulfil his dream of adding a Hindu temple and synagogue to the site.

Today, the mosque is the only one in the country to be Grade I listed. Dr Llewelyn said: “The mosque administers to a very active and thriving local Muslim community. Throughout the Covid 19 pandemic, they actively encouraged Muslims to get the vaccine and became an official NHS vaccination centre for the entire community. In doing so, they introduced this intriguing mosque to many people who did not know it existed.”

Following her guided tour of the mosque, Dr Llewelyn visited the nearby Muslim Peace Garden. The tranquil site was built as a burial ground for Muslim soldiers in World War I and had an equally absorbing history.

Dr Llewelyn was honoured to be asked to speak at the opening of the Women’s Support Centre Surrey Art Awards exhibition at the Lightbox in Woking. 

The annual event opens the art and creative writing exhibition, which celebrates work from women who have received support from the centre.  The women’s lives have been affected by at least one encounter with the criminal justice system and some have served a sentence. 

Following an introduction to the evening from Marilyn Scott, Director of the Lightbox, Dr Llewelyn spoke about the centre’s ethos and why it is so effective. She said: “The centre recognises that what we do and feel is directly related to our lived experiences and it works with women in a non-judgemental way to help them address their needs and rebuild their lives.”  

Leanne Spiller, Chief Executive of the Women’s Support Centre, then gave some examples of how its work has helped women reintegrate into community life, which can often take a long time and requires specialist help. Some of the artists were at the event and received a resounding round of applause from the audience. 

A large audience attended the event, including the Lord-Lieutenant Michael More-Molyneux, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Chief Executive of Women in Prison Kate Paradine and Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Surrey Dr Rebecca Bowden.

Surrey’s High Sheriff saw the cares lifted from young carers’ shoulders as they were freed from their responsibilities to enjoy simply being children during the Guildford Young Carers family fun day at the Spectrum Leisure Complex.

Dr Llewelyn visited all kinds of activities during the day, including basketball, tenpin bowling, ice skating, knitting, arts and crafts, an assault course and planting plants. And she saw many young carers’ spirits lifted as they took a welcome break from caring for siblings, parents or other relatives.

She said: “Every family I chatted to, and that was a lot, had a wonderful time. The team did an outstanding job organising so many different activities. On behalf of the County of Surrey, I’d like to thank them all for the support they provide to young people who are carers. I hope they are very proud of everything they achieved and the happiness that the day spread.”

Dr Llewelyn, above, with Mike Parsons, who set up the Guildford Young Carers Fund when he was mayor in 2018/19. The fund is part of Guildford Philanthropy, which seeks to tackle local needs and transform the lives of the disadvantaged.

It was an evening of great celebration as Neelam Devesher, Chair of Surrey Ethnic Minority Forum (SMEF), received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, presented by the Lord-Lieutenant Michael More-Molyneux. 

Neelam comes from Yorkshire and set up SMEF in 2009. The organisation provides a voice for small groups working in Surrey to help improve the lives of its ethnic minority citizens. It is now a well-established umbrella organisation, which nurtures groups and runs a wide range of activities. One of them is SMEF Health and Race, run in partnership with Surrey Public Health, Surrey Heartlands and Active Surrey. It aims to reduce health inequalities in BAME communities.