Local jewell

Within ten minutes of where I live I visited an extraordinary establishment I did not realise existed. St Joseph’s Specialist School and College is a co-educational residential and day school for students with complex and severe learning difficulties who are typically on the Autistic Spectrum. They cater for students, typically 80 in total, from 5+. There are 300 staff which indicates the personalised nature of the support every student receives. They have a long waiting list and desperately need more residential accommodation. It was a privilege to meet many of the staff and students. In my  view, the dedicated staff are true “saints”.

 

 

LEST WE FORGET

I have just participated, at the invitation of Russell Pearson the Surrey Chief Fire Officer, in the Service of Memorial Dedication for 100 Surrey Fire Fighters who lost their lives in WWl and WWll. They have brilliantly transformed a Cricket Pavilion at the HQ site which was in disrepair into a Memorial Pavilion where today the plaque listing those who had lost their lives was placed. A very moving and well attended occasion complete with a piper’s lament. 

 

 

In Flanders' Fields

Attended the Surrey Royal British Legion Poppy Launch at St Mary’s Church Stoke d’Abernon. The highlight for me was the  the reading by Penelope Keith of the famous poem “In Flanders’ Fields”  with the powerful closing lines:

“If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders’ fields”. 

So, do support this year’s Poppy Appeal. 

 

 

 

 

SERFCA

SERFCA is the South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets Association. Last evening the Lord Lieutenant presented awards to thirteen reservists and cadets for their outstanding service. It was inspiring to hear the stories and the commitment of these volunteers. We should all be grateful for what they do and indeed encourage others to become reservists and cadets because as well as serving their country (and county) it is a great experience for the individuals. 

 

 

LEST WE FORGET X 3

See earlier blog. 

 

 

MAGISTRATES

 

The principal role of a High Sheriff is to support the Judiciary. To that end I spent time today in Guildford Magistrates Courts at the invitation of Jane Macaulay the Chairman of the Bench. We sat in the public gallery to watch proceedings of three cases in one of the courts. I came away with a much better understanding of the role  of magistrates in promoting justice and dealing with all the complexities of the law and of the individuals before them. Magistrates are unpaid and deserve all our appreciation. 

State of the Art at Holloway

Saw around the fabulous new building at Royal Holloway University which was opened today by Princess Anne. It is a brilliant modern design that blends so well with the Victorian splendour of the original buildings on the campus. Students will I am sure be well motivated to work hard in the 

 

new environment. 

KEEP OUT

 

Visited HMP Coldingley for a “Crime Diversion Scheme” session run by the charity KEEP OUT bringing together four serving prisoners (serving long sentences) and seven young people most of whom had been excluded from mainstream schools. The purpose being to demonstrate to the young their personal responsibility for the choices they make at an early age. The prisoners’ stories were very powerful and honest about the root causes of their crimes and the pathway to prison. They highlighted preferable attitudes and behaviour. Well done KEEP OUT. 

PRIME PRIMARY

Visited St John’s C of E Primary School in Dorking. A school with a chequered history but which has been transformed in the last 2+ years by the Headteacher, Mark Richards. As a strong leader he has developed a strong ethos around “every child matters”, putting  learning  first, developing personal skills  and providing well targeted support to those pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Involvement of parents is all important .

This model will, with these early interventions, contribute to reducing the level of school exclusions with all the individual and social  benefits that that will generate. 

 

 

PRISONERS' OPERA

The gym of Highdown Prison. The setting for a performance of Les Miserables to a packed audience.  But no ordinary performance, as it was presented by the Prisoners and Staff of HMP Highdown and Pimlico Opera. There could be no better location to tell the story of Jean Valjean released from jail and his ardent jailor Javert, the tension between God and the Law and the prospect of redemption. The power of the tale was magnified by  prisoners acting and singing many of the roles of the opera combined with the haunting music.  No more so than when at the end of the performance the audience was asked to sit in our seats until the prisoners on the stage were taken, after a standing ovation, and locked up in their cells for the night. A musical and acting  treat with powerful and emotional messages. Wow! Well done to the participating prisoners and prison staff and of course to Pimlico Opera who instigated these inspiring prison opera performances.