The Community Foundation For Surrey’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.

As I near 160 engagements in my Shrieval year, this location was one of the highlights. Robert & Tanya Lewis were the fabulous hosts for the Community Foundation for Surrey’s 20th anniversary celebration, showcasing their wonderful private car collection and other auto memorabilia. I was wearing three hats at the event. Firstly, as High Sheriff making a speech, secondly, as the longest serving current trustee of the Community Foundation and thirdly, as a Panel Member and until recently Chair of Guildford Philanthropy, one of the Community Foundation’s Area Funds.

It was wonderful to see so many people that have been connected with the Community Foundation including Wendy Varcoe the founder CEO and Sir Stephen Lamport, one of the Founding trustees. Fund owners, grantees, individual donors, staff, trustees, vice presidents, ambassador and volunteers past and present were all in attendance both to celebrate twenty years of serving the community and also to take home a copy of the new Impact Report detailing area of hidden need, the role the voluntary sector is playing and the ability of the Community Foundation to bring donors together to help remedy that need.

Beccy Bowden, Zoe Coltart and Sarah Ferguson should all take a bow for organising such a wonderful event and for reminding us all of the thought leadership, collective philanthropy and purposeful giving the Community Foundation for Surrey brings to our County.

Young and Old, Singing Together in Guildford United Reform Church.

I have long been a convert to the wonderful power of music and community as a way to uplift spirits and break down barriers; and to see this in action in the United Reform Church in Guildford on Friday September 5th was a real privilege. Run by Charlotte Miller, Director of Intergenerational Music Making (IMM), it meets on the first Friday of every month fostering connections and collaborations through music and connectivity, involving people from nursey school children through to centurions and including those with both mental and physical challenges. All are welcome and the United Reform Church is a wonderful all-embracing host.

IMM operate across a umber of sites in Surrey and I would encourage you to pick up a tambourine and get involved!

To see the pleasure on faces young and old, singing together, making music, participating in creativity together was inspiring, and everybody left with  smiles on their faces, especially Suzanne, myself and my two cadets Imogen and Grace.

Annual Golf Day Raises Funds for The High Sheriff Youth Awards.

When a rain storm of biblical proportions swept over my car on the way to West Hill Golf Course on Thursday September 4th, I questioned my wisdom to be hosting a golf day. But mercifully the storm clouds cleared, 15 teams of four golfers devoured their bacon sandwiches and headed out on the beautiful heather bestrewn course. Returning with stories of heroics and near misses we enjoyed a wonderful three course lunch and then collectively excelled in bidding for the very generously donated auction prizes before awarding something resembling the FA Cup to the team winners from GlucoRx Ltd.

The day was in aid of the High Sheriff Youth Awards which supports charities that encourage young people to get involved in activities which provide structure, focus or enjoyment in their life that may have previously have been lacking. As a consequence this often leads to a reduction in anti-social behaviour and improves their life outcomes. Last year, we supported 15 local charities awarding some £53k and this golf event is our main fund-raising event. So I would like to thank Seymours for again supporting us and sponsoring the event, Srixon for proving the ammunition on the course and the team behind putting this day together being Ken Schofield, Julian Wakeling,  Shahid Azeem, Chris Critchlow and Ron Enticott. Special mention also to Tony Jamieson for stepping in at the last minute as auctioneer, Jumblebee for co-ordinating the silent auction and Will Potts for ensuring the whole day ran smoothly.

Finally massive thanks to West Hill Golf Club for inviting us back and for being such magnificent hosts.

The High Sheriff’s Annual Summer Celebration held at Brooklands Museum.

It is traditional that the High Sheriff holds a garden party or summer celebration during their Shrieval year as a way of acknowledging individuals and groups who contribute to the community through public service, charity work and voluntary efforts, and I am delighted as the 804th High Sheriff of Surrey to be continuing the tradition. The event is also an opportunity for a High Sheriff to raise awareness of their Shrieval theme or a particular cause they wish to highlight; and for me that is helping to prevent young people in Surrey from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). I was therefore delighted to hold the event at the Brooklands Museum where they do so much to inspire young people outside the conventional classroom through their Innovation Academy, in partnership with the Bourne Education Trust and the many education visits and summer activities they organise.

I was delighted to welcome the Lord Lieutenant and his wife Sarah, many Deputy Lieutenants and past High Sheriffs together with the Chair and Leader of Surrey County Council and many mayors of the Boroughs and Districts. Also present were a number of recent recipients of grants from the High Sheriff Youth Awards. These grants support charities that encourage young people to get involved in activities providing structure, focus or enjoyment that previously have been lacking in their lives. My guests were able to talk with representatives from Eikon, Surrey Care Trust, Emerge Advocacy, South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, Guildford Shakespeare Company, Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre, Bespoke Youth – West Molesey and Surrey Clubs for Young People in addition to seeing a demonstration from SATRO who provide vocational training support to young people. Everyone was also able to have a tour round the wonderful automobile, motor cycle and aviation exhibits at this wonderful home to British engineering and innovation.

I was delighted that so many people attended who have been actively participating in my shrieval theme, which started with the Centre for Britain and Europe at the University of Surrey being commissioned to research the different cohorts that make up the NEET population in Surrey. This has been followed up with two conferences which have emphasised the need for a collaborative response to the problem and a sharing of knowledge, data, experience and ideas between those all working to improve the lives of young people in Surrey. I look forward to continuing discussions and developing alternative and earlier intervention pathways during the remainder of my time in office. I was delighted that so many police cadets were able to help my guests throughout the event and I would like to thank them all for their dedication and service and finally I would like to profusely thank Alex Patterson and his team at the Brooklands Museum for their wonderful hospitality and support.  Photos; Andy Newbold

Great Shearwater Community Day – Engendering all that is Good in our Local Communities.

On September 2nd Suzanne and I were delighted to have been invited to the Great Sheerwater Community Day at the Parkview Community Centre where we were welcomed by Martin Vodden from Foodwise and Charlotte Miller from Intergenerational Music-Making who were co-hosting the day with Woking Borough Council and Freedom Leisure.

There was an abundance of activity with Freedom Leisure leading a number of outdoor pursuits on the Rec, with both a police car and fire engine to explore in the car park. Inside there were creative arts, local performers, reptile encounters and musical entertainment for younger visitors whilst there were a host community and charitable support stands there outlining the vital work they undertake in the community. These included Men’s Pit Stop, AndysManClub, Women’s Grow and Glow,  Canalside Community Fridge, Action for Carers Surrey, Luminus, Linkable, Surrey Police, Woking and Spelthorne social prescribing teams.

It was also great to see the Shopwise facility in the old nursery building, run by Foodwise.

It was a very inspiring day, engendering all that is good in our local communities.

V-J Day – 80th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service

Suzanne and I were honoured to be at the ’80th Anniversary of Victory in Japan’ Day Service of Thanksgiving at Guildford.

It was a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by so many in the Pacific field of combat which ultimately led to the surrender of the Japanese forces and the end of the Second World War. The service was led by The Very Reverend Bob Cooper, Dean of Guildford, who also gave a very thought-provoking sermon on both the personal sacrifices made and the necessity of the terrible decision to use atomic weapons to shorten the conflict.

The service was attended by the Lord-Lieutenant, his wife Sarah, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and a number of Deputy Lieutenants, the deputy Mayor of Guildford, the deputy Chair of Surrey County Council and both my and the Lord-Lieutenant’s cadets. Colonel (retired) Patrick Crowley MBE DL addressed the congregation on the Victory in Japan Day 1945, and the Act of Remembrance was spoken by Brigadier Paul Evans OBE DL before the Last Post was sounded and a two minute silence observed.

Brigadier (Retired) David Neal then said the Kohima Epitaph before the National Anthem and the Blessing by The Bishop of Guildford.

Four Teams wanted for the High Sheriff Youth Awards Charity Golf Day 2025.

West Hill Golf Club in Brookwood, Woking is once again the venue for this year’s High Sheriff’s Golf Day which is set for the 4th September and there are still a few team spaces available! We would also welcome any auction prizes that would help us to continue supporting young people in Surrey.

The stunning heathland course, designed in 1909, is an impressive course, guaranteeing a memorable and challenging day! Teams will compete for the Challenge Trophy, in a four-ball betterball Stableford competition with further “on course” competitions including a Hole in One opportunity to win £10,000 to be shared equally with the charity.

The Headline Sponsor this year is last years winning team – ‘Seymours – the Award winning Estate Agents, who are pictured below receiving the trophy from HSYA Chairman Mr Richard Whittington. Seymours are a leading independent estate agents with twenty offices across Surrey and Middlesex which are owned and run by local Partners who have the community at their heart. Partner, Franco Orlando commented “We had a fantastic time last year at West Hill Golf Club and would like to thank the organisers for a most enjoyable day, all the more gratifying knowing that we were also raising funds for worthy causes.”

After breakfast, there will be a shotgun start with time to socialise after your round before a 3-course dinner, which will also involve a high-quality auction conducted to raise funds for our young people.

Last year’s event raised in excess of £23,000 for the High Sheriff Youth Awards, established in 1993 by a committee of dedicated individuals which support the young people of Surrey. The Youth Awards scheme raises around £50,000 per annum, given in grants to those young persons who have produced the best projects about Law and Order, Crime Prevention and how to combat Anti-Social behaviour – with the aim of helping young people make Surrey safer and groups that support the wellbeing of young people in the county. The focus is upon helping vulnerable, at-risk young people, whose numbers have, sadly, increased in recent years due to the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

You can find out more about the work of the High Sheriff Youth Awards at http://www.surreyhighsheriff.org

The High Sheriff of Surrey – Mr Peter Cluff adds, “I am looking forward to this event – one of the highlights in the High Sheriffs calendar. I attended the event last year which was graced with good weather – it is a little bit later this time so fingers crossed the sun will be out and it is a such a beautiful course, one of the best in the County! I also very much look forward to the auction and of course the dinner which will be excellent! There are only spaces left for four teams, so get in touch to come and enjoy a great day whilst supporting those young people who need it.”

A team of 4 players is £1,000, Non-playing dining guests are welcome at £65 each and if you would like to support the event you can sponsor the hole in one opportunity for £500, a hole at £250 or bid for one of the fabulous auction prizes. Contact julianwakeling@aol.com for more information or call him on. 07595916444.

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Photos by Andy Newbold.

Nathalie Scott – A Talented Guildford Artist’s Work Featured in the National Portrait Gallery.

I had an wonderful outing to the National Portrait Gallery last week in the company of one of the exhibiting artists. Nathalie Scott is a Surrey based artist, many will know for her wonderful mural on a wall in Chapel Street Guildford or her marvellous series of paintings and drawings of the Faces of Guildford. 

I was fortunate enough to be one of her subjects but not fortunate enough to be the one chosen for exhibiting in the National Portrait Gallery. The attached picture was entered into the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2025 and was one of only 46 selected from 1,314 entries from 61 countries.

Nathalie is also one of the judges at the inaugural Guildford Festival of the Arts which is taking place on September 25th-28th this year. It will host art exhibitions, pop-up installations, workshops, talks and an art trail taking in 16 venues across town from G-Live to the Yvonne Arnaud. More information can be found here https://www.guildfordfestivalofthearts.co.uk

A Drawing of the High Sheriff on display in Guildford’s Jigsaw store by Nathalie Scott

Wine Walk Raised over £17k for Two Great Causes!

On June 21st I undertook, quite non-sensibly really in 30+ degree temperatures, with 14 other hardy souls, a 21 mile walk up and down the Surrey Hills connecting five vineyards:- Greyfriars, Chilworth Manor, Albury, High Clandon and Denbies (and not forgetting one brewery too – the Tillingbourne Brewery).

The intention was to both raise awareness at the start of English Wine Week of the fantastic vineyards we have in our County and also raise money for two good causes:- the High Sheriff Youth Awards and Guildford Philanthropy. I am immensely gratefully to everyone who supported us and now having counted all the donations I am delighted to announce we raised a remarkable £14,050 to split equally between the two great causes. Also, Guildford Borough Council kindly match-funds 50% all donations to Guildford Philanthropy which pushes the overall fund-raise to £17,562.

I would like to give huge thanks to Richard Game of Cressive DX (one of Guildford Philanthropy’s founding Corporate Ambassadors) and Andy Crossley (Panel Member of Guildford Philanthropy) for their support in organising the event, and Andy Newbold for the photos and protein bars on the day!

Next Steps for NEETs - August 2025 Update

Next Steps for NEETS – August 2025 Update.

As I have previously related, a High Sheriff in their Shreval year can help shine a light on a particular issue and for me it is to highlight the number of young people who reach the age of 16-18 and are not in education, employment or training (NEET). On average in Surrey over recent years some 8.4% of young people in that age group each year are NEET or their status is unknown. Whilst not as high as some other parts of the UK, it still amounts to over 1,400 young people a year. I started my year by commissioning a research report by the Centre For Britain and Europe at the University of Surrey as part of a discovery process to ascertain the different cohorts that make up this NEET population and the interwoven factors that are at play. We have since then held three conferences inviting all stakeholders in the space to share their knowledge, data, experience and ideas with a view to finding collaborative solutions through earlier or alternative intervention. Prevention is better than cure both socially and economically. I attach a link below to the latest output, again produced by the Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE), which summarises our discovery progress to data, details the discussions and outcomes from the latest conference and outlines next steps. I am extremely grateful to Professor Amelia Hadfield and her team at CBE for their continued support and diligence, and also to everyone else who has contributed to the initiative so far.

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-08/NEETS-Insights-to-Actions.pdf