Judicial Service No 1

This morning was the Service for the Judiciary of Surrey held in Holy Trinity Church in Guildford. We processed from the Guildhall to the Church for the Service and back again down the High Street with a Civic Procession led by the Mayor of Guildford and the High Sheriff’s Procession led by the Chief Constable as in the pictures, with my chaplain and the judges. The Service included the invitation from the Chief Constable to me as High Sheriff to reaffirm the promise I made at my Installation including the challenging words: “I will well and truly behave myself in my Office”.  Also a powerful Declaration of Commitment to Public Service read by Cate Newness-Smith, the Chief Executive of Surrey Youth Focus. The Mayor of Guildford kindly hosted a reception in the Guildhall afterwards.  Thank you to everybody involved in making this a very special day, in particular the Revd Cannon Robert Cotton of Holy Trinity, the Surrey Youth Choir and the amazing trumpeters who rather stole the show!

 

 

 

Lest we Forget

Today affixed to the road side of our garden wall this life size Silent Soldier reminding us to remember the fallen of the First World War. The Exhortation reads: “1914-1918 Lest We Forget”. The Royal British Legion of Surrey initiated and supplies this memorial and I encourage you all to consider supporting them by installing your own Silent Soldier. 

 

 

 

POLICE PARADE

 

Participated in the ceremony today hosted by the Chief Constable celebrating the promotion of 40 probation PCs to Independent Patrol Status. A wonderful group  of well turned out young men  and women who marched to the band of the Royal Logistic Corps. I greatly enjoyed talking to some of the PCs whilst inspecting their ranks. A perfect English afternoon tea in the Loseley Barn preceded the formal presentation of certificates. A special delight of the occasion was the presence of many family members so obviously rightfully  proud of their sons and daughters. 

Peggy Archer

Witnessed the Lord Lieutenant at Loseley presenting a CBE to June Spencer, or better known to us all as Peggy Archer. She is amazing! Aged 98 and you would never know it.Look at the photograph I took today.  She is still working, regularly recording for the Archers in the Birmingham studio (she lives in Surrey) and is the oldest working actor in the country. What a lady. What a delight to meet her. 

 

 

Citizenship

Hosted today at County Hall a citizenship ceremony whereby 27 individuals (including  a number of families) made declarations of loyalty and were formally granted citizenship of the United Kingdom. A very dignified and memorable occasion with lots of photographs taken, I fear I will appear on  many Surrey mantelpieces. It was a real privilege to meet the new citizens and play a part in the ceremony including a brief speech explaining the role of the High Sheriff and revealing my ten favourite places 

 

in Surrey. 

 

 

Interfaith

 

The inestimable Mayor of Runnymede, Iftikhar Chaudhri, and his charming wife Aleema invited us to his Civic Interfaith Service at the Royal Holloway Chapel. It was a very special ocassion with the active participation of five faiths: Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, Christian and Muslim including readings from the Qu’ran, the Psalms and the New Testament, and a sensational University choir. All followed by a delicious tea. A memorable: event, well done Iftikhar! 

March for Headley Court

With the gracious and friendly  participation of  the Countess of Wessex, attended a service of Thanksgiving for the work of Headley Court followed by a full military march along the (closed to traffic) High Street of Dorking in front of huge and cheering  crowds. I was asked to inspect the ranks of the Headley Court civilian workers and met some very committed nurses and other staff. Very inspiring. A great day for saying farewell to Headley Court and saying a thank you to all who have worked there in tending to our wounded service men and women

 

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Treasurers

I don’t know what the collective noun is for a room full of County Council Treasurers. “A Treasure of Treasurers”?. Sheila Little is the estimable Treasurer of Surrey County Council and is this year’s President of the Society of County Treasurers. She invited me to address  their annual conference dinner in Cobham last evening. Having 40 years ago (!)  been a company Treasurer I hope I entertained them with some horror stories of bad financial management. I told them that they understand figures but so many other people think they do but don’t and thus the key part of their jobs was to speak truth unto power; and that  there is no such thing as financial  alchemy

 

, instead you will run of of cash. Nice photograph of Sheila with Julie Fisher who has been appointed acting Chief Executive of Surrey CC on the retirement of David McNulty. 

STEMX

F or those who don’t know, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. The educational charity SATRO provides real life experience of the working world in STEM subjects. What is so powerful is that they do so with with academically gifted children through to those disengaged with education: I have seen them at work. At their awards on  Wednesday evening, I presented one of the awards and spoke about the opportubites  for STEM  careers in Surrey, citing Connevans (see a previous blog), MRI Solutions, WWF and of course Surrey University. Congratulations to all the young people and the volunteers who were applauded that evening. 

 

 

Kane FM

Was interviewed on Kane FM about the role off the HS. Good to get the word out there.

More importantly learnt about the work Kane FM do with young people who have issues and are “struggling” at school by providing them with experience of working in the radio studio, pre recording,  using video cameras etc.  As a result, many get an Arts Award qualification, their employability and confidence are improved as are their social skills.  Kane FM is run by the committed, experienced and  inspiring Jenniann Davies. Their music may not be to my taste but I do applaud their social work supporting  50 young people very year.

 

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.mixcloud.com/KaneFM/the-culture-and-community-show-25th-september

(scroll to 55min,55 sec)