The Mayoress and I were delighted to see this Irish dance troupe. This cast of very talented individuals includes the lead male dancer from Riverdance.  Having had an opportunity to speak some individually, it seems many of them wish to move into stage production.

It was a pleasure to join the owners and staff of the Curry Special, Horns Road in celebrating their 25th Anniversary.

It was great fun, with great food and great people. An evening well spent.

Today I had the pleasure of presenting certificates to Volunteers (Intepreters and Translation) from the Redbridge Institute of Adult Education’s at the wonderful setting of our own Valentines Mansion. Volunteers are so important to the community and I was delighted to have this opportunity to meet so many.

Visit to the Hurlingham Club, Ranelagh Gardens, SW6 arranged by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham and I was delighted to meet with the other Mayors, both incoming and outgoing, from the “Chain Gang” (Mayors of our neighbouring Boroughs).  We had a lovely lunch in a fabulous setting and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

Saturday 22 May – I had two engagements today. Firstly setting the walkers off from Snaresbrook Tube Station for Redbridge Ramblers’ Get Walking Day’. We were blessed with wonderful weather and they had a 9 mile stroll on a beautiful day.

In the afternoon I visited Forest School to watch the Chapel End Savoy Players performance of “Iolanthe” and was amazed to see that Gilbert and Sullivan were talking about the Liberals and Conservatives all those years ago!

My first engagement at the official opening of Redbridge Bowls Club

Friday 21 May – I was delighted to attend the official opening of Redbridge Bowls Club as my first official engagement. The sun shone on us all and I was very pleased to be able to participate and, in the presence of the Captain and Club members, actually bowl an ‘end’ myself.

It is an honour and privilege to be chosen as Mayor for the municipal year 2010-2011.

The Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr James O'Shea

Redbridge is a very diverse Borough and I look forward to meeting with all groups of the community in the forthcoming year and to raise the profile of the two Charities that I am supporting:

The Alzheimer’s Society (Redbridge) and the Dream Factory. Find out more about my appeal charities on my Appeals page on Redbridge i.

I look forward to working closely with the Mayor’s Charity Appeal Committee in support of these two Charities.

I shall be supported in this task by my wife of 45 years, Mary, and my Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mrs Ruth Clark.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the Mayor's Parlour

I hope you will enjoy reading about my mayoral year through my blog.

Since last May, the Mayoress and I have been to many engagements, both locally and in other parts of London. It was indeed an honour and privilege to be the First Citizen of the Borough – even for just one year!

I would like to thank all the individuals, groups, projects, organisations, nurseries, schools, colleges, places of worship, care homes, businesses and hospices that have invited me to their events.  I was able to appreciate first hand the diversity, vibrancy, youthfulness and energy of Redbridge through these engagements.

There had been a few “new” events which I attended in the year, such as the Armed Forces Day, the official naming of Queen’s Hospital by the Princess Royal, met with the Borough’s new Honorary Recorder (The Hon. Judge Radford), visited the Old Bailey, attended an extra Garden Party to promote YOU (Youth Organisations – Uniforms) hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales, met with the Foreign Secretary, unveiled the Leon Greenman Memorial at Valentines Park, switched on the Christmas lights at Seven Kings, signed the Friendship Agreement with Yuexiu District, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, attended a Chinese New Year reception at Downing Street and organised a series of events in the Town Hall and Kenneth More Theatre to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Tiger.

I would like to thank my Mayoress, my Deputy Mayor and Mayoreess Councillor Brian Lambert and Maureen Lambert, staff from the Mayor’s Office and all members of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal Committee, 2009/2010. A total of just over £32,000 was raised for my two chosen charities – the Alzheimer’s Society Redbridge Branch and ReBEP, the Redbridge Business Education Partnership.

My thanks to those who have made donations, attended events and support the two charities during my Mayoral year.

Councillor Thomas Chan
Mayor 2009/2010
London Borough of Redbridge