University of Surrey - Graduation Ceremony

Graduation time at the University of Surrey.

I was delighted to part of the Graduation Ceremony on May 1st for the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey.

The Ceremony was held in Guildford Cathedral, followed by a reception on Campus and then a small dinner hosted by Vice-Chancellor Max Lu in the University Restaurant. My wife, Suzanne and I took the opportunity to speak to a number of graduates who clearly had enjoyed their time at the University and  were very complimentary of their tutors and the courses they had been studying.

John Mullen (pictured with myself and Max Lu) who is the Chairman of Quantas received an Honorary degree recognising his many achievements since graduating from the University.

46 Surrey Scouts Attain Highest Award – The Chief Scout’s Gold Award.

Suzanne and I were delighted to be invited to the Chief Scout’s Gold Award ceremony at High Cross Church, Camberley on Saturday April 26th.

There are around 18,000 members of Scouts in Surrey and over 3,500 dedicated volunteers. The Gold Award is the highest honour in the Scouts and it takes successful young people 2-3 years to attain it, having undertaken 9 different challenges, each requiring dedication and application across a number of different work programmes.

It was a privilege to award certificates to the 46 scouts who had achieved the gold award and to learn of their achievements from Joe Rogerson the County Commissioner and Martin Gerrard DL, County Chairman for Surrey Scouts. I was able to address the recipients and offer my congratulations and some words of advice including my favourite quote, from Mohammed Ali, “Don’t Count the Days, Make the Days Count” 

Find out more about the Chief Scout’s Gold Award HERE

Surrey Hills Community Radio – Winners of a King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

A popular community radio station founded in 2014, was one of the nine Surrey organisations awarded with a King’s Award for Voluntary Service late last year and on Monday evening (28th April), my wife Suzanne and I went along to see the award being presented by The Lord-Lieutenant – Mr Michael More-Molyneux to co-founder and station manager – Dave Smith at ‘The Stockroom Society’ in Leatherhead.

Following the official citation read out by Deputy Lieutenant – Neelam Devesher DL, Dave made an emotional speech acknowledging the many people who had been responsible for the station’s success –“This award is not just for the radio station – it’s for every single person who has given their time, their talent, and their voice to make Surrey Hills Community Radio what it is today. We are so grateful to all who have been part of our journey.”

There are 65 presenters currently involved and a team of dedicated people make sure everything works, is done with professionalism and care, and the station’s philosophy of ‘bringing people together through the power of local radio, community collaboration and shared stories’ is realised. Judging by the many local people who had turned up to help celebrate the award which included the vice-chairman of Mole Valley District Council – Cllr Roger Adams, and Helen McGuire MP, Surrey Hills Community Radio has become a valued asset to the County and it is great to see the efforts of so many people honoured with this award.

Left to Right – Neelam Devesher DL, Helen Maguire MP, The Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey – Mr Michael More-Molyneux, Phil Wessell – Dave Smith, Nicola & Dan Joyce and Kayleigh Arunasalon (Core Management of SHCR), The High Sheriff of Surrey – Mr Peter Cluff and Vice-Chairman of Mole Valley District Council – Mr Roger Adams.

One of the highlights of the evening was the children of Claygate Primary School singing a couple of radio themed songs – they are one of the many schools that have benefited from the educational support the radio station provides at the studio in North street. Later someone else who had been helped along in their career through the ‘new music’ programme – Millie Jane Franks – a local singer/songwriter treated the audience to a performance too – a moving reminder of the station’s impact on local talent and creativity.

An added bonus was the choice of venue which was much bigger than the nearby studio. The Stockroom Society, situated in the Swan Shopping Centre generously offered the space so that more people would be able to celebrate – a community business itself, it was a great collaboration and their art is fabulous. Congratulations all on a great evening and for serving the music and creative community.

Find out more about Surrey Hills Community Radio, including how to listen in to its exclusively online shows a www.surreyhillsradio.co.uk

Photography by Andy Newbold

Dave Smith – Co-Founder/Station Manager.
Councillor Tim Hall and Mary Huggins
Dave Smith – Co-Founder/Station Manager
Reception at The Stockroom Leatherhead
Dave with some of the presenters/guests
Children from Claygate Primary School
Millie Jane Franks
The Lord Lieutenant’s speech
The Presentation of the Award
The Presentation of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service

The Revelaires Variety Group receive the Kings Award for Voluntary Service

A King’s Award for Volunteer Performers – Revelaires Variety Group!

I was very honoured to join HM Lord-Lieutenant and Caroline Breckell MVO DL in presenting The Revelaires Variety Group with the Kings Award for Voluntary Service recently. They are an Amateur Variety group founded in 1953 who for the past 72 years have been providing free musical entertainment to care homes and dementia units in Spelthorne, Elmbridge and Runnymede from Sept to March and have a fundraising show once a year at Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury-on-Thames. They are one of nine organisations that received the Award in the County in 2024.

Do watch the presentation video which is available on their Facebook page HERE

The Amber Foundation – Transforming Lives.

I enjoyed an informative visit to The Amber Foundation in Ockley on April 16th with my wife Suzanne and Patricia Lees, the Resident Judge from Guildford Crown Court. We were escorted round my Louise Cheung, Fundraising Manager, who showed us the facility which can house up to 30 young people aged between 18 and 30 years ago offering support to help them transform their lives.

Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, they have four locations in Devon, Wiltshire, Kent and Surrey.  The focus at the centre is on health and well-being, personal development, independent Living and education and employability. The average stay is six to nine months, during which the young people progress through three stages;- induction, development and move-on, with the aim that at the end of their time at The Amber Foundation, they leave to start employment which the Foundation helps arrange together with their living accommodation. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the residents who were enthusiastic about the support they were receiving and enjoying their time at The Amber Foundation. Having recently received a grant from Your Fund Surrey the Foundation are about to commence building an outdoor covered space to provide additional facilities.

To find out more about the Amber Foundation click HERE

Spelthorne Litter Pickers awarded with a Kings Award for Voluntary Service!

The Kings Award for Voluntary Service – Spelthorne Litter Pickers

I was delighted to attend the presentation of the Kings Award for Voluntary Service to the Spelthorne Litter Pickers at Spelthorne Council Offices on April 15th. The award was presented by the Lord Lieutenant at a reception hosted by the Mayor of Spelthorne to Shirley Lunn the Co-Founder and Chair of Spelthorne Litter Pickers. Set up during COVID they now have some 1,200 volunteers across the Borough with five trustees co-ordinating their activities and collection by the Council. They are one of just nine volunteer organisations in Surrey which were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service this year.

The Kings Award for Voluntary Service - Spelthorne Litter Pickers.

Welcoming New British Citizens

On Monday April 14th I was privileged to be asked to preside over two British Citizenship ceremonies held at Surrey County Council’s head office in Reigate. For each ceremony there were 30 people who each declared an oath and ended their personal, sometimes long, journey in becoming a British Citizen. It was clearly a very happy day for them all and it was a most enjoyable experience for me to hand them their certificates and welcome them as citizens of the United Kingdom. My wife, Suzanne, and two cadets, Grace and Imogen, were also present at the ceremonies.

To find out more about British Citizen Ceremonies in Surrey click HERE

Surrey Heritage Awards 2025

Surrey Heritage Awards Ceremony 2025

I was delighted to attend the Surrey Heritage Awards Ceremony at Wotton House, near Dorking on the evening of April 9th.

I had been invited along with the Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker, to celebrate the best designs in an historical context and the best building craftsmanship. It was fitting the awards were held in the magnificent Old Library in Wotton Hall which had been designed by Henry Woodyer, a Victorian architect who designed or amended some 60 buildings across Surrey and many more nationally, as Robin Stannard of ADAM Architecture informed the packed room.

Dr Deborah Mays, Director of The Lutyens Trust and one of the judges announced the awards and the evening was compered by Amanda Lewis, Chair of Surrey Historic Buildings Trust.

It was great to see the level of craftmanship on display and the desire to conserve and improve property in a historically sympathetic way was evident in all the buildings up for an award.

Farncombe Community Garden

The Farncombe Community Garden.

I was delighted to visit the Farncombe Community Garden on April 9th, meeting Deepa Craig, a Trustee and an old friend from when she worked at the Community Foundation for Surrey.

The garden was a wasteland owned by Surrey County Council until acquired by Farncombe Community Garden, a not for profit organisation, that aims to bring the local community together in a working garden. Their vision is to grow community wellbeing by gardening together. The garden is open to all three sessions a week and for charity and community groups on other occasions. They are run by a small group of volunteers and, supported by a number of national and grant givers, they have transformed the space in very quickly into a social but tranquil space where people can come and help develop the garden or sit back and enjoy the view!

They encourage anyone to come along and see the wonderful space they have created and are also on the lookout for more volunteers so that the garden can be open longer and enjoyed by more of the Community. More information can be found HERE.

Screenshot
Mayor of Guildford's Diversity Show

The Mayor of Guildford’s Diversity Show

It was a privilege to attend the Mayor of Guildford’s Diversity Show at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday April 5th together with Marilyn Scott DL and Michael Ramcharan the President of Guildford Wey Rotary.

In an action packed show 18 local acts from a variety of cultures and heritages showcased their respective talents through music, dance and theatre; illustrating the widely diversified community that we live in and demonstrating how we can celebrate our differences through the performing arts. Huge congratulations go the Mayor, Sallie Barker, for making this project a reality, Nick Wyschna for compering and Charlotte Wyschna for working the hardest to make the necessary on-stage changes between acts.

All proceeds from the evening were donated to the Big Leaf Foundation who undertake extraordinary work with displaced young people and Co-Founders Kayte and Vicki should be justifiably proud that the highlight of the evening was an emotional piece performed by young people supported by Big Leaf incorporating stories of the arduous journeys undertaken by some people fleeing their homelands accompanied by shadow puppets and evocative music; it drew a standing ovation and the shedding of a few tears.

Read more about the show HERE