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This beautiful artwork from Millie, a pupil at Town Farm Primary School, was chosen by the judges last night to be the logo for ‘Spelthorne in Bloom’ during this memorable 30th birthday year! Chairman Nick Wood-Dow DL welcomed the Mayor of Spelthorne, Jean Pinkerton, civic dignitaries and Police Inspector Maxine Cilia to Notcutts Garden Centre to celebrate the launch and discover the winners of the Poster Competition for pupils of all ages. I was honoured to present first prize in the Special Needs Category to Eamon, together with a High Sheriff’s Certificate to acknowledge the wonderful work undertaken by everyone at Manor Mead School.    

Head of Year 10, Katie Palmer (right), presented the judges with eight impressive and highly persuasive teams of Year 10 students (above), who passionately explained their cases for receiving funding from First Give, for their own particular charity. The winning team was 10YS, and they received £1,000 as a donation to Halow; but all of the powerful submissions were a great credit to Ashcombe School and demonstrated that these fine young people really are ‘Building a Culture of Giving’ as volunteers in our community. The judges (l to r below; Izzy, Head Girl; Katie; proud Head of Year!; Chris, Joint Head of School; Joyce, CEO Surrey Clubs for Young People and Max, Head Boy) were overwhelmed with the professionalism and dedication on display, whilst winners Luke and Felix were simply delighted with their success!

What better way to spend the evening of Mother’s Day than at this star-studded variety performance organised by Nick Wyschna (‘guildford fringe theatre company’), on behalf of Mayor of Guildford, Mike Parsons’s charities – Guildford Young Carers; Headway Surrey and the Mayor’s Local Distress Fund?! Nick and the acts all deserve enormous thanks for a simply brilliant night – well supported by many of the Surrey Mayors, Mayoresses, Deputies and Consorts;

L-R; Linda (Consort, Spelthorne); Jean (Mayor, Spelthorne); Shweta, (Mayor, Elmbridge); Jean (Mayoress, Guildford); Mary (Deputy Chair, Mole Valley); Cath and Linda (Deputy Mayoress, Guildford). A most appropriate photo for this special day!

Royal Alexandra & Albert School has over a dozen Ambassadors who work within their own year groups and houses (often helped by sixth from mentors) to identify their favourite charities and to create innovative ways to support that organisation, and raise awareness of the issues they address. Eleven of the students (seven pictured above) delivered highly professional presentations of their choices, together with well developed plans for taking future voluntary actions to provide consistent support in the future. The excellent list of charities identified is a testament to the careful analysis undertaken by the Ambassadors; Sleep Easy YMCA; Wheels For All; Stripey Stork; Little Roo Neonatal Fund; Shooting Star; Open Arms Malawi (a long standing School partnership); School Foundation (and the unique nature of the association with RAAS) and The Lucy Rayner Foundation – what a brilliant collection! Congratulations to leaders Jo (right, below), Deputy head of Co-Curriculum, and parent volunteer Matthew, a very knowledgable charity volunteer with close connections to ‘Wheels For All’

Michael Gains (centre), holder of an Award For Outstanding Contribution To Social Care, has been organising nearly twenty different events for Cedar Court residents each week for the past 10 years. Today we investigated the history of the role of High Sheriff, and shared some of the many experiences from the current Shrieval year. Two of the experienced audience were pleased to join a photo on behalf of their fellow residents, and to give the High Sheriff a break from the many questions!