Many thanks to Mole Valley Deputy Chair, Mary Huggins, for ensuring that we took the opportunity to wave encouragement to the Rickshaw Challenge as it passed through Dorking, at great pace, shortly after the town Act Of Remembrance. Very best wishes to One Show’s Matt Baker and the members of the Rickshaw Challenge team providing the engine power – let’s all give them our full support!
High Sheriff’s Volunteer Police Cadet, Naeel Radha, provided excellent support throughout the Remembrance Service, attended by numerous members of the various cadet forces, scouts, guides and school representatives, in addition to serving members of the Armed Forces and associated reserve units. The RBL were present in strength, as always, and a huge crowd gathered to follow the procession to the Dorking War Memorial for an emotional Act of Remembrance. Bishop Jo provided a powerful insight into just one of the fallen; a youth who signed up aged 14 and died just 18 months later. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
A distinguished assembly climbed to the Bell Room in the Cathedral Tower for 6.00am to witness the magnificent rendition of ‘Battle’s O’er’ from Pipe Sgt Ed Lee, a Y13 student at Gordon’s School. Proud parents, Susan and Derek (right), joined (from left) the Lord Lieutenant, Mayor of Guildford, The Dean of Guildford, Chairman of SCC, The Bishop of Guildford and DL Richard Whittington. An unforgettable occasion!
A memorable and very moving Choral Evensong at the Cathedral featured the Cathedral Choir, The Almac Bisley Brass Band and an astonishingly poignant and beautifully sung Anthem. Following the display of falling poppies, many of the congregation were then able to join the ‘The Poppy Dinner’ and help raise funds for the RBL. A wonderful way to continue ‘Remembrance Weekend at the Cathedral’!
104 year ago the High Sheriff of Surrey was an inspirational and caring man from Merrow, John St Loe Strachey. At the beginning of WW1, amidst all of the fervent patriotism, John recognised the need for some means of self identification for those young men who attempted to sign up in the armed forces, but were deemed unfit for whatever reason. He created a badge, ‘The Strachey Willing Badge’, for those individuals to wear with pride. Only one such badge was known to still exist before the recent discovery on farmland in Send by a local detector, Steve Benedict, working under the guidance of Andy Jones, who discovered a second. In a perfect example of timely public-spiritedness, Andy (second right) yesterday donated this badge to Surrey Heritage. It was a privilege as the 797th named High Sheriff of Surrey, to accept this wonderful example of the generosity of spirit of past High Sheriff John St Loe Strachey. More details of this incredible find in a few days!
Surrey Care Association Chairman, David Holmes, and CEO, Erica Lockhart, welcomed over 400 enthusiastic members, supporters and, most importantly, worthy Nominees to the 10th Annual Awards Ceremony, held at Epsom Downs Racecourse. The Awards recognise the outstanding dedication of individuals and teams working in adult social care, and were hosted by famous radio personalities, David (‘Diddy’ – a nickname bestowed by no less than Ken Dodd, David explained!) Hamilton and the lovely Sylvie Blackmore, from BBC Surrey. Sylvie had literally just accepted a marriage proposal, so wild celebrations were certainly the order of the day! Delighted to have been able to help present the Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution To Social Care’ to the irrepressible Michael Gains, our friend from Cedar Court;
A great evening with some wonderful, caring people – as was constantly emphasised during the celebrations, every nominee was a true winners!
A very special Remembrance Service was held today at Mount Browne, where a plaque was dedicated to three men who had been police officers in the Guildford Borough Police and who lost their lives in WW1 whilst serving in the Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards. At that time there were three police forces in the county, and whilst the 15 officers in the then Surrey Constabulary who fell are all remembered on a plaque at HQ, this was the first opportunity to recognise the three officers from Guildford Borough Police. The Service was opened by DCC Gavin Stephens, and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Major General Tim Sulivan delivered a moving address. All present were particularly grateful to the PCC, David Munro, and Chief Constable, Nick Ephgrave, for providing this unique opportunity, and to Phil Bradman and Sarah Best from Surrey History Centre, for their extensive research into the military careers of the three officers;
PC 14 William George DEACON
PC 20 Sidney Charles MACEY
PC 23 Henry John GASCOYNE DCM
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Once again, the incredible McLaren campus was the venue for the GASP Awards Presentation Event 2018, held amongst the famous F1 cars in the McLaren Technology Centre – many thanks to Michael Edgecombe, Group Director, Brand Experience, for his kind hospitality. GASP Chair, Sally Varah, and CEO, Henry Curwen, welcomed supporters, friends, family members and, most important of all, the 18 inspirational young Award Winners. Keep watching Twitter for the formal pics!
Michael More-Molyneux, HM Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, is also proud to be President of GASP and presented the prestigious GASP Ambassador Award during the evening. The GASP Motor Project has inspired 246 students at over 500 day/evening sessions throughout the last year, and continues to make huge differences to young lives across Surrey. Just listing the names of some of the Awards speaks volumes about the challenges that these young people face every day; ‘Group Achievement’; ‘Total Engagement’; ‘Personal Development’; ‘Perseverance’; ‘Commitment & Resilience’; ‘Enthusiasm to Learn’; ‘Positive Attitude to Learning’; ‘Role Model’ and ‘Peer Mentoring’. This is an exceptional charity, well worthy of our collective support!
A great privilege to be invited by Year R Teacher, Melanie Gordon, and Head Teacher, Jan Washer (right) to speak to the school assembly and then visit the three classes to answer the many impressive questions that sprang to mind amongst the pupils!
I was delighted to find four willing volunteers to join us for the photo. Ofsted consider that this successful local school is a key part of the local community, is strongly supported by parents and staff, and benefits from exceptional leadership – ‘Outstanding’ indeed!
Mayor Of Elmbridge, Shweta Kapadia, enthusiastically supported by Ramesh, welcomed an expectant full-house to her Charity Diwali Ball last night. It was a marvellous occasion, and to quote one of the civic dignitaries ‘wonderfully different!’. Our first Diwali celebration was unforgettable, but more importantly a huge success for the Mayor’s Charity, Elmbridge Rentstart, whose objective of ensuring that no-one sleeps rough in Elmbridge, inspired all present to contribute their full support.
