A Remarkable Year – By The High Sheriff's Media Consultant and Welcome Jim!

 

Just over a year ago, I met Robert Napier at the annual Youth Awards event for the first time and we briefly discussed the idea of trying to raise awareness of the role of the high sheriff and helping people to understand his role through social media and a bigger online presence. Within a few weeks a new website was created with a new Twitter and Facebook feed and most importantly a blog where Robert could record his adventures and showcase the people and organisations he visited. A year and 228 blogs later we now have a great archive that will permanently reside on the High Sheriff of Surrey website enabling people to see exactly what the role entails. I learned many things about the role myself even having photographed many great High Sheriff’s previously and having a good idea what was involved. Like all before him Robert visited Charities, Youth groups, Prisons, community organisations, and much more but now it was recorded for perpetuity. Aside from the visits there were many meetings he attended where he would try and see how his role could add value or make a difference. At his Ex-tillation last night it was obvious that he had very much earned a great deal of respect from the community and I wanted to mark that with this blog today. He has not only successfully managed to increase the awareness of the role but his other legacies include his determined work to do something about the Exclusion in schools issue where he brought together a large amount of people to set changes in motion – something that will be continued by our new High Sheriff, Jim Glover whose position as Chair of University of Surrey will help further the progress made. It has been encouraging to see a great deal of interaction with young people who of course are the future and this year under Jim’s tenure we hope to look at more social media opportunities enlisting the help of that generation to ensure the future of the role is recognised and embraced by all generations of Surrey. 

On a personal note I would like to thank Robert and Patricia for creating my role which now continues and for the tea and cake at Baynards, introduction to their amazing charity www.btz.org.uk which I am now also working with and of course their friendship. Having spoken with Colin last night – Robert’s driver and on site support person, Gill his PA who works tirelessly behind the scenes organising the many events he has instigated in the name of networking and thanks and of course the Under Sheriff, Caroline Breckell who guides the high Sheriff’s through their terms I can see his organisational and leadership skills along with his genuine appreciation and respect for those working with him have enabled him to make this Shrieval year a remarkable one. This all continues with 2018/19 High Sheriff – Jim Glover who will be submitting his first blog later today and  I am certain this coming year will be equally as successful. 

Thank you Robert and may you enjoy some well earned rest! 

 

 

Police Cadets Awarded

A great ceremony yesterday evening with many cadets and their families present for the first High Sheriff Awards for Volunteer Police Cadets. The High Sheriff now being the Patron of the Surrey scheme. Pictured below is the drill team from the Epsom unit who won the drill award and, above, the High Sheriff Cadet for 2018/19 (and his parents). Police Constable Phil Jebb received the Leader of the Year Award, one of the 60 police officers and staff who give of their own time to tutor and support the cadets.  A huge thank you to them and to Sergeant Graham Kerslake for his committed leadership of the scheme and managing last evening’s event. 

 

Cranleigh Centenary Garden

 

Delighted to attend the first day of site work for this Centenary Garden in Snoxhill recreation field. The Garden will remember the war fallen of Cranleigh and surrounding villages. It will be both physical and virtual, the latter being voices reading letters from the front and more recent reminisces. A great initiative of Cranleigh Parish Council that deserves all our support. 

 

 

Ash Manor Revisited

 

I was keen to revisit this school in Ash, along with my Chaplain, as last time there was not the opportunity to have a proper conversation with the Head Teacher or look round the school. This time we did both and I also addressed an Assembly of 250 of the 950 11-16 year olds at the school. The Head, the wonderfully Scottish and inspirational Agnes Bailey (on the right in the picture, on the left, Miss Nicholls runs the unit for children with special educational needs)  has only been in post for just over two years  and has made a real difference to the School which was known by some locally as Trash Manor. No longer! A lot of staff changes, clear boundaries for discipline, relentless focus on teaching standards and a lot of support for children with learning difficulties and those with disciplinary issues. This was a very appropriate school to be my last school blog in my Shrieval year. I wish Agnes and her staff all continued success. 

 

Amazing GASP

Visited Dunsfold aerodrome to see two entries from GASP taking part in the Green Power Formula 24 event. There were 40+ organisations taking part with 11-16 year olds driving these small racing cars. The two GASP vehicles had been built from kits by the young people under the tutelage of the dedicated GASP staff. Today’s event was for testing of the cars and 15 drivers from the GASP project took their turns at the wheel. The vehicles, powered by batteries, were running well and it was a great sight see them and many others speeding round the Dunsfold circuit. What a great opportunity for these young people to have fun and to learn how to work as a team. An amazing occasion. 

 

 

Walton Firs

Attended a charity auction and dinner last evening at the Burhill Golf Club in aid of the Walton Firs Foundation. Ten years ago they raised £800,000 to acquire a great site for outdoor activities for young people from camping, archery, caving,  to rope climbing and much fun and satisfaction. “A time for Adventure”. Thousands of youngsters, many living in difficult circumstances, gain confidence and friends through this experience every year. A good organisation. 

 

 

Boxing revisited

As my Shrieval year ticks away, meeting John Edwards on Wednesday evening triggered that I had intended to revisit Guildford City Boxing Club before the end of my year to celebrate the great work that he does. Yesterday evening the Club was the usual hive of activity with some thirty young people in training (see the photo). Also met “Pink Tyson” aka Kallia Kourouni who ranks 15th in the world for female boxers who is a coach and trainer at the club. John and his fellow coaches do a fantastic job with the young people with many advancing to be professional boxers but all of whom enjoy the challenge and camaraderie of the Club. It is all run on a shoe string and deserves support. 

 

 

Dyscover

Visited Dyscover a small but”perfectly formed” charity providing support and help to individuals who have aphasia. Typically 30% of stroke patients will exhibit symptoms of aphasia.  Every  sufferer is different with varying degrees of difficulty in understanding language and that is why the care provided by Dyscover is so effective.  I met 30 or so individuals with this condition and heard first hand how much they value the support they receive from Dyscover. Well done to Rosemary Townsend,the Chief Executive,  her staff of speech and language therapists and over 30 volunteers. They receive no statutory funding. 

 

 

Clubs for Young People

Attended a Reception at County Hall hosted by Peter Martin the Chairman of SCC to celebrate  the work of the charity Surrey Clubs for Young People and to present awards to volunteers. I was pleased to present the Club News Award to Michelle Watson of Beare Green Youth Club which is very enterprising with their communications and with their involvement of the young people in the running  of the Club.  

 

 

Furzefield Revisited

I made a second visit to Furzefield Primary School in Merstham today and was invited to entertain 200 or so primary children in a question and answer session about the role of the High Sheriff.  The questions varied from “do you get paid?” to “do you have a gun?”.  The answer to both was no!  It was delightful to spend time with Susan Chrysanthou, the inspiring Headteacher, who is a firm believer in inclusivity and in children not being excluded from school.