Intriguing visit to the historic Shah Jahan Mosque

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.

Fascinating visits to the Muslim Peace Garden and Brookwood Cemetery

The High Sheriff visited two beautiful, tranquil burial grounds and heard about their extraordinary histories from her knowledgeable hosts.

Dr Llewelyn began the day with a visit to the Muslim Peace Garden, which many people drive by without knowing it’s there, set back from a busy road behind trees.

Shahid Azeem, Surrey’s High Sheriff 2020-21, accompanied her during the tour by their host Dr Zafar Iqbal, who was instrumental in the garden’s restoration.

Dr Llewelyn said: “I would recommend the documentary about the restoration process, which was done together with the Horsell Common Preservation Society.”

After the Muslim Peace Garden visit, the High Sheriff went to Brookwood Cemetery, a resting place for people from all over the UK from many different faiths and countries. There is also a separate military cemetery.

Dr Llewelyn heard about the cemetery’s incredible history, including how coffins used to be sent by rail from Brookwood’s two railway stations to the Necropolis Railway Station, which was once next to Waterloo. A short piece of track still survives, as does the southern platform where monks from the St Edward Brotherhood live today in adjoining buildings.

Dr Llewelyn said: “Cemetery Manager Avril Kirby gave us a wonderful tour explaining how she and her team have worked tirelessly to restore large parts of the cemetery that had fallen into disrepair.” 

Photos: The Colquhoun Family Mausoleum, which was restored in 2019. There were extensive masonry and roof repairs and work to the surrounding area. During works, 10 coffins were exhumed from the crypt and replaced in new zinc-lined coffins. 

Impressive backdrop for Police passing out parade

Dr Llewelyn joined Chief Constable Gavin Stephens and Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant, in inspecting 60 new officers at the Surrey Police passing out parade.

After the parade, held in the impressive setting of Loseley House in Guildford, the new officers were joined by their guests to celebrate their achievements over afternoon tea. Each officer received their certificate to mark their independent patrol status which means they can now respond to incidents by themselves.

High Sheriff opens Arts Awards celebrating women’s creativity

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.

Guildford fun day gives young carers a welcome break

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.

Reaching new heights in basketball.

Crimestoppers visit focuses on youth service

A visit to Crimestoppers in Wallington gave the High Sheriffs of Surrey and Sussex a chance to learn more about the charity’s work in their counties and nationally.

The charity, which launched in 1988, helps people to report crimes anonymously. It also shares advice and research on crime, working to keep us all safer.

Neil Hart, High Sheriff of West Sussex, and Dr Llewelyn, Surrey’s High Sheriff, joined the Chairs of their counties’ Crimestoppers Committees during the visit, which took in the Crimestoppers Contact Centre.

Given the rise in county lines in Surrey, Dr Llewelyn was particularly interested in hearing updates about Fearless, the Crimestoppers youth service, from Mick Duthie, Head of Operations, and Glenys Balchin, Regional Manager for Surrey and Sussex.

Fearless provides a safe place for young people to pass on information about crime and wrongdoing without giving their personal details.

Community work earns award for Barnett Wood Pre-School

A visit to Barnett Wood Pre-School in Ashtead gave Dr Llewelyn a golden opportunity to present a High Sheriff Award recognising the school’s work in the community.

Even when times were tough during the pandemic, the school “stood strong”, said one parent, supporting both children and parents “in style with beaming smiles”.

Barnett Wood Pre-School’s dedicated team put children and their families front and centre in all they do. The school is independently run as a limited company with charitable status by directors who give their time voluntarily.

When she arrived, Dr Llewelyn introduced herself to the children, who are between two and four years old and live within the Ashtead KT21 postcode area. She explained the High Sheriff’s role and read them a story.

Dr Llewelyn is pictured with some of the children at Barnett Wood Pre-School and presenting the highly deserved award to manager Louise Pruthi.

Queen’s Award presented to Surrey Ethnic Minority Forum

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.  

Team receives award for first-rate community work

Surrey mental health and drug and alcohol service Catalyst gave Dr Llewelyn insight into its invaluable work helping people to change their lives during a visit to its new space in Woking’s Moorcroft Centre for the Community.

Catalyst focuses on mental health and wellbeing support, help for drug and alcohol users who want to change, and counselling for individuals and loved ones affected by drug and alcohol use.

Over a coffee in the centre’s social enterprise café, Dr Llewelyn heard about the tsunami of people who have asked for mental wellbeing support from Catalyst since the pandemic began.

She also discovered that Catalyst owns a community enterprise company that helps people with complex needs to build independence, and works with Surrey County Council, Public Health England and the Office of Police and Crime Commissioning to offer outreach services.

Lady Louise O’Connor DL, Catalyst’s patron, presented two people in the Catalyst team with a well-deserved Lord Lieutenant’s Award that recognises their outstanding work in the community.

To get in touch with Catalyst, please use their contact form on catalystsupport.org.uk.

Dr Llewelyn, left, with Catalyst CEO Sue Murphy, Lady O’Connor DL and Catalyst Chair Warren Rockett.

Dr Llewelyn celebrates Law Sunday with fellow High Sheriffs

Winchester Cathedral was the magnificent location for this year’s traditional judicial service, which was Choral Matins on what is called Law Sunday.

Dr Llewelyn said: “It was a very great pleasure to join the celebrations at Winchester with my fellow High Sheriffs. It was a beautiful setting for this ancient tradition.”

The High Sheriff of Hampshire, Phillip Sykes, hosted the service, which included High Sheriffs from nearby counties, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, who as tradition dictates sits at the front of the cathedral seating.

A wide range of guests who work tirelessly to keep the Queen’s Peace attended. They included judges and their clerks, coroners, magistrates, the police, fire and rescue services, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. The rest of the audience was made up of civic dignitaries, such as mayors and their consorts and county and borough council representatives and representatives from the voluntary sector.

The civic procession was followed by the shrieval procession, with the High Sheriff of Hampshire being the last person to be guided to his seat before the service started.

Pictured from left to right: The High Sheriff of East Sussex, Greater London, Isle of Wight, the Under Sheriff of Hampshire, and the High Sheriffs of Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Dr Llewelyn pauses for a moment in the historic cathedral.