The Lord Lieutenant, Michael More-Molyneux and I have recorded a video to thank the services and the people of Surrey for their support during this past year. As I say in the video, I have seen the best of the County, with the amazing work done by the emergency services, the NHS, and the thousands of volunteers during this period and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, newsreader and journalist who is best known for presenting the news with ITN came to Woking this week to help me with an awareness campaign.
Sir Trevor who for used to be a resident of Guildford for many years was visiting Woking to appear in an NHS video we have produced to encourage members of the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) community to be vaccinated against Covid-19. It has been suggested that some members of the BAME community in Surrey are reluctant to be vaccinated against the disease which has claimed so many lives in the County. Sir Trevor kindly stepped in to help us to try and reassure members of the community that the vaccine is safe and essential in the fight against Covid-19. It is hoped that this will save lives.
Whilst in town, I gave Sir Trevor – a former President of Surrey Cricket Club, a tour of Woking’s Bedser bridge, named after the late twins Sir Alec and Eric Bedser – cricket heroes from Horsell with whom he has a personal connection. We were joined by Ray Morgan OBE, Peter Bryant and Douglas Spinks from Woking Borough Council.
The Vaccine is the key to us all getting back to a normal life and finally being in control of this terrible disease which has disrupted human life worldwide for the past year and I urge all people of Surrey to be vaccinated when the NHS contact them.
Today I had the honour of visiting the hundred or so Woking Borough Council workers along with Volunteers and agency who are in the process of carrying out approximately 9,000 surge tests in Knaphill, St Johns and Goldsworth Park.
The two testing centres at The Vyne Community Centre and Dianthus Building in Goldsworth Park have delivered and collected over 7,000 tests since Monday with the help of data capturing controlled by WBC, Surrey Police and REACT (ex-military disaster management charity), a truly amazing result.
The feedback from volunteers has been extremely positive in the community where they have been welcomed and over 80% who were visited have had carried out the tests.
The operational and organisational side of the task has been first class and seeing it all first hand certainly gave me confidence that we are in the good hands of the wonderful staff and volunteers. On Behalf of Woking Borough and the people of Surrey I thank you so much for your support and hard work for which we are so grateful.
I had the pleasure of visiting both Hubs and was able to help distribute generous donations of fruit from Boz’s Fruit and Veg and fantastic cakes baked by Adam’s Chef at Bacaro Café -both companies are based in Woking.
A huge thanks also goes out to ‘Surrey’s Local Resilience Forum’ (LRF), for their daily and evolving challenges during every hour of this latest development. We are proud of you all for what have done and continue to do.
@Surreylive @Surreylife @WokingBoroughCouncil @SLRF @SurreysLocalResilianceForum @SurreyHillsRadio @Corvid19 @SurgeTesting @Surreylieutenancy @BozsFruit&VegLtd @BacaroCafe @Woking @wokingnewsandmail @wokingadvertiser @thechallengermagazine @TheVyneCommunityCentre @SurreyPolice @REACT
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Today I helped out at ‘Santa Stork’ which was created by Reigate Charity – Stripey Stork who through fund raising, provide gifts for those who really need a helping hand at this particularly difficult time of year. At least 50% of referral partners expect to be making requests for more families as a direct consequence of the pandemic and so the operation this year has been scaled up to respond to 2,500 children and 1,250 parents/carers gift requests. The ‘Virtual Santa Shop’ gives people a chance safely to become a Secret Santa for a child in need – they can purchase a gift from local partners – Toy Barnhaus, and the cost of the item will be used to purchase a requested gift, giving the referred families the Christmas they deserve. Today, along with Lesley from Reigate St. Mary’s School, I helped to pack some of those gifts along with volunteers from Stripey Stork. It is sad that there is such a need this year for this service but thanks to people’s generosity almost 2,000 gifts had already been purchased online. If you wish to make a difference to a family in need this Christmas please visit the online store at: https://stripeystork.org.uk/santashop/ I would like to also take this opportunity to thank everybody at Stripey Stork for the incredible work they do all year round to help Surrey families in need.
Wreath laying with Surrey’s Lord Lieutenant at the Muslim Peace Garden in Woking to remember the 450,000 Muslims who lost their lives fighting for Great Britain.
Video and photos by Andy Newbold
The High Sheriff of Surrey, Shahid Azeem, was amongst the dignitaries that laid a wreath in Jubilee Square, Woking, during a closed ceremony due to the second lockdown of 2020. Woking Borough Council kindly supplied LIVE footage which was aired on the High Sheriff’s social media pages allowing the citizens of Surrey to share in the ceremony as it happened. Another challenge overcome during the coronavirus pandemic in a year that has minimised activity for the High Sheriff who would normally attend many public events and visits. Together we remembered them.
I was asked for help by the Aldershot Muslim community group, who had been praying regularly on Friday at centre in St Georges Road, after the facility was no longer available after decades of use. I then spoke to the leader of Rushmoor Borough Council Cllr David Clifford and he immediately agreed to allow the Muslim congregation to use the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aldershot with full access including parking for the Muslim congregation until new facilities can be found.
I am so grateful for the help of David and Bishop Daniel Grant for their tremendous support and Bishop Daniel Grant commented “As the Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Aldershot, I am so pleased to be able to share our chapel with on Friday afternoons with the local Muslim congregation who need a temporary place to worship and pray. This has been such a positive experience for all and a true example of inter-faith”.
Liaqat Hussain organiser of the Aldershot Muslim congregation, commented; “We are so grateful to Bishop Daniel and Cllr David Clifford for bending over backwards to accommodate us and make us most welcome. This is great way to demonstrate the multi-faith groups working together in harmony”. Together we are Stronger!
I also ‘virtually’ attended the Surrey Muslim Association AGM marking their 5th Anniversary. It was heartening to learn how all faiths group worked during Covids-19 supporting the most vulnerable, dealing and supporting with mental health issues. The Surrey Muslim Association is a great platform for inter-faith work and during these challenging times we need all faiths working together for the betterment of the community and vitally learning and supporting one another.
Today the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux with Shahid Azeem DL current High sheriff and High sheriff in nomination Julie Llewelyn, volunteered at Shah Jahan Mosque to support the mosque committee with NHS and local GPs to lend support in the immunisation if the Covid-19 vaccinations.
The Shah Jahan Mosque opens every Sunday for four hours to vaccinate over 60 individuals who are eligible for the vaccine. Shahid Azeem DL was also vaccinated as he is in the eligible group.
A huge thank you goes to the Shah Jahan Mosque, the Chairman, the Imam and volunteers, and a particular thank you to NHS staff including Professor Aftab Ala, Dr Mohammed Munira & Dr Paul Van Den Bosch for their valuable time to ensure we are all protected.