Together We Are Stronger!

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.

Volunteering to lend support for immunisation

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.

Thank You

Summer at Breinton

On Saturday afternoon, I spent the afternoon in Woking at the house of Lionel and Kumi Smith-Gordon for the last recital of the Summer at Breinton series: Seemingly Unlikely. Saxophonist Huw Wiggin and harpist Oliver Wass showed their love of the repertoire for this “unprecedented” combination of instruments, including works by Bach, Rachmaninov and Gershwin.

Prior to the main event, violin sister-act Coco & Yume Tomita performed a varied solo and duo programme. Coco is the Strings Category winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020. Yume at the ae of 12 showed so much talent and composure in front of a sell-out crowd in social distance settings in the gardens, both sisters are studying at the Yeudi Menuhin school.

Yume Tomita playing variations of ‘Amazing Grace’, had my hairs back of my neck standing and Huw and Olive playing ‘Summertime’ and ‘Someone to Watch over Me’ was truly amazing.

Thank you so much to the family for inviting an supporting the Classical music industry.

https://www.breinton.com

VJ75 Anniversary – Guildford.

On Sunday 16th Aug 2020, I had the honour and joy to join the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, Chairman of Surrey County Council, Tony Samuels and Col. Patrick Crowley (Rtd) DL Chief Executive of South East Reserve Forces & Cadets Association, to mark the end of WW2 in Japan – the VJ75 anniversary. I read the following poem at the services, which reflects where we as a society.

A POEM OF HOPE

And the people stayed home.and read books, and listened,and rested, and exercised,and made art, and played games,and learned new ways of being, and were still.and listened more deeply.

Some meditated, some prayed,some danced, some met their shadows.

And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

A huge thank you to the Dean of Guildford Cathedral, the recording of the music – prepared by Choir of St Paul’s Church in Canterbury, along with live music by Organist Richard Moore and the clergy.It was our duty to pay our respect to the Fallen and the contribution made by the Surrey battalions, many lives lost for our Peace. We will Remember Them.

Eid Ul Adha Celebrations in Woking.

This morning I visited and prayed with second of five congregations which are being performed at Shah Jahan Mosque in Woking.During these challenging times and observing restrictions, the mosque committee and the volunteers have been extremely well organised in controlling of the visitors.

Muslims all around the UK are to start celebrating Eid ul-Adha, the most important of Islam’s annual holidays. With approximately 4 million Muslims living in the United Kingdom, many people across the country are expected to take part in the Islamic celebrations.For my friends and colleagues and those of us who are not familiar with Islamic religious practices may be asking ourselves, what exactly is Eid ul-Adha? And how is it celebrated?The name of the holiday ‘Eid ul-Adha’ means ‘the celebration of the sacrifice’. This name refers to a tale of sacrifice mentioned in the Quran, in which God asks the Prophet Ibrahim in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith. Those familiar with Christianity will notice parallels between this story and that of Abraham and his son Isaac found in the bible, called the ‘binding of Isaac’. The Quaran explains that at first, Ibrahim ignored the dream, but after it had reoccurred for several nights in a row he decided to follow God’s orders to prove his faith.As he tried to decide his course of action, Muslim’s believe that the devil had tried to convince him not to kill his son.In response, Ibrahim threw rocks at him. This is considered a significant act and one that is now copied by pilgrims at Hajj who throw stones at pillars. As Ibrahim began to carry out God’s command, God swapped his son for a goat, which Ibrahim was allowed to sacrifice instead. Hence why Eid Ul Adha means “celebration of Sacrifice”.

The Imam Hashmi performed the prayers this morning and it remains me on behalf of all wish everyone Eid Ul-Adha Mubarak, peace to all and we prayer for wellbeing all mankind. #EidUlAdha #shahjahanmosque #woking

Remembering them All

I along with Lord Lieutenant Michael-More Molyneux, my Police Cadet Fin Wells, Mayor of Woking Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, Zafar Iqbal – Woking borough Community Engagement officer, and the representatives of Air Force along with Hafiz Akram, had the honour and pleasure to lay the annual wreath at the Muslim Peace Garden to recognise the contribution made by the Armed services in WW1 and WW2, in particular the Commonwealth soldiers.

The 27 Silver Birch trees that were planted at the Peace Garden represent the 27 Muslims soldiers who were buried there during World War 1 & 2. It’s vital that we should no forget all the Allied Forces who sacrificed for our today. We will remember them All.

Photos: Steve Porter

First Friday Prayers In over 100 days at Shah Jahan Mosque as life slowly returns to normal.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Shah Jahan mosque this afternoon for Friday prayers. A real poignant day for all as today was the first Friday prayer held at the mosque in over 100 days.

A huge thank you and congratulations to the mosque committee and volunteers for ensuring that all the congregation who attended complied with all the government legislation, social distancing and also registration on the track and trace system. The signage and labelling around the premises was well displayed and it was well observed by all.

Imam Hashmi delivered a great message and prayer to the entire community along with Woking people of Faith, which includes all faiths, churches, and various places of Worship.

An enormous thank you to Surrey Police and in particular, Woking PC – Tony Charles for his assistance and observation on the Friday Prayers. #shahjahalmosque #surreypolice #surreylive #surreylife #highsheriffofsurrey

Flag raising marks the start of Armed Forces Week 2020

A flag raising ceremony took place on the 26th June at 10.30am outside Guildford Cathedral to mark the start of Armed Forces Week. Mr Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey raised the Armed Forces Day flag with the Very Reverend Dianna Gwilliams, Dean of Guildford. They were joined by Shahid Azeem DL, High Sheriff of Surrey; Anthony Samuels, Chairman of Surrey County Council; Colonel John Baynham, Deputy Commander of 11 Infantry Brigade South East and Steve Owen Hughes, Chief Fire Officer and Veteran. The Rt Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of Guildford was also present.

Also in attendance were Maj-Gen Tim Sulivan CB CBE DL, Brigadier Paul Evans OBE DL, Col Patrick Crowley DL and Canon Peter Bruinvels CC.

Sadly, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hundreds of events taking place cross the county to celebrate Armed Forces Week have been cancelled. You can watch a video of the ceremony below.

Mr More-Molyneux said, “Armed Forces Day is a chance for us all to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. From currently serving troops to service families, ex-service personnel and Veterans and Cadets.

“Surrey is considered very much by the MoD as a ‘military friendly’ county and as Lord-Lieutenant, I am very proud of that reputation. Having seen at first hand, our local forces supporting the NHS in the fight against COVID-19, I am very pleased to give a very public ‘thank you’ to them all today for a job really well done.

Surrey hosts four Army bases with 6200 service personnel and their families as well as 1,274 service children living in Surrey, four Reserve Centres with over 200 Reservists and nearly 2,750 Tri-Service Cadets. Additionally, Surrey is home to over 42,000 ex-service personnel and Veterans.

The Dean expressed her delight at hosting this celebratory event at the Cathedral “‘It is always a great pleasure to host military events here at Guildford Cathedral. We have held many memorable events in partnership with the military.”

Surrey County Council is celebrating Armed Forces Week by asking residents to post photographs of them and their loved ones who have served our country to their Facebook and Twitter.

Denbies Vineyard Visit.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Denbies Wine Estate kindly hosted by Chris White CEO, where I also met Sweet c’s Handcrafted Chocolates by Caroline Hill, along with Surrey Hills Physiotherapy ran by Helen and Massimo Barcellona with Markus Dell Photographer and Chimney Fire Coffee owned by Dan Webber, and in particular to hear about their challenges in the current climate.

Whilst learning about the challenges  they are all facing, it was refreshing to hear how positive they all were in their outlook for the future.

The weather was glorious, whilst practicing  the standard  social distancing, it was great to hear from Chris White CEO of Denbies Wine Estate  on how they have adapted to the current situation, where they have increased their on-line presence, with Wine and gifts, Opened the “Hatch on the Lawns”, along with Garden centre, hopefully starting turs, as well as hoping to open the hotel business, where the occupancy from 95%  and dropped down to zero with the lockdown.. these are challenging  times, but it was great to see how they have adapted to  the needs.. I was most impressed after my 3 hour visit to find Sir Adrian White going around the Lawns with his black bin bags and emptying bins.

https://www.denbies.co.uk/

Sweet C’s Handcrafted Chocolates,  well what can you say about this incredible company, that hand makes every piece of chocolate hand crafted and made in surrey for feasting. All carried out from Caroline’s House in Bookham, again apart of Surrey Hills enterprise. The cocoa beans imported from Columbia , where farmers and enterprise are encouraged and supported by many organisation as part of their corporate Social Responsibility  to support local families, I have to say the Milk chocolate for diabetics was the best I have tasted. I would encourage you to check-out the website and please support these independent retailers. https://sweetc.co.uk/ @sweet_cs-Chocs

It was great to learn from Dan Webber on his enterprise Chimney Fire Coffee, where Dan spent many years n Africa researching and classifying coffee beans before setting up his business in his shed in 2016. Again I encourage you to check-out Dans website and I would particularly recommend Peru Classic Espresso (chocolate). Dans workshop is in Ranmore Common where he has his team roasting, tasting and distributing coffees to individuals, as well as corporates, biscuit Blackberry. I would encourage you to pay a visit to their Ranmore Common roasting place https://www.chimneyfirecoffee.com/

I was totally amazed to find Surrey Hills Physiotherapy based at Denbies Wine Estate providing  Physiotherapy, Pilates and specialising wellbeing, addressing joints, bones, muscle and backpain business that is family owned by Massimo and Helen Barcellona. As someone who is involved in sports and played sports, the amount of time I have spent in physio room with ligaments and other pans, I have to say the setting, the treatment and rehab room are the best I have ever seen. The building dates back to 1800, and Barcellona’s have retained the woods and settings from 1800, it truly is a wonderful place, where technology and nature come together.. during the Covid19, the company has been teaching virtual classes including free access as well as supporting many housebound individuals. With Massmio specialism in ACL, I can see many football clubs using their services.

Markus Dell running the social media and live streaming contents along with his excellent photographer, please do visit them https://www.surreyhillsphysiotherapy.co.uk

Finally a huge thank you to all for hosting me and your valuable time showing me around.. It was a very unique experience.. Thank you and I will be visiting you soon.