The Mayors Blog

December began with a visit by us to Holy Trinity Church at Barkingside. After a short service and the blessing of the Posada, a small travelling crib, we processed with it down to the High Street where we left it in Baistow Eve’s window.

The Posada will spend the time going daily from shop to shop and church to church during the lead up to Christmas. This is a Mexican custom and a lovely one I think.

The afternoon took us to the KMT for a really enjoyable production of James and the Giant Peach by the Sideshow Company. It was excellent. The actors were superb as the children, various characters and insects! The set was terrific as well.

The evening took us to St Augustine’s Catholic Club for an evening of Traditional Irish Music. This was a fund raiser in aid of the Helen Rollason Cancer Fund. The music was fantastic, the musicians absolutely terrific and I think a good amount raised for the charity.

The 2nd took us to the Age-Link Christmas Party for some elderly and housebound residents of Redbridge, Newham and Waltham Forest.
Age-Link works hard to take residents from different boroughs on trips or to provide events for them to attend.

Monday the 3rd’s first function for Olive and me was at the Redbridge Disabled Women’s Welfare Association 6th Annual Seasonal Celebration Lunch. This was particularly interesting as representatives from different faiths explained important facts about their particular religion. In all the great faiths “light” and what it symbolises is of great importance.

Following that we travelled to St Peter-in-the-Forest for Forest Preparatory School’s Christingle Service. This was really delightful. A lovely service and a truly magic moment when all the candles were lit.

In the evening we all went to the University of East London’s Seasonal Celebrations at the Dockland Campus. We were entertained by Professor John Radford who told us seasonal stories. It was good fun.

On the 4th at midday I went to the leaving party of Ray Trendell, our Chief Public Protection Officer. There were lots of people there as Ray has been with Redbridge for a long time and is very popular. Ray and his wife Sue are also very special friends of mine.

In the evening we travelled to Twickenham for a Christmas Concert by the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall. The music was superb.

On the evening of the 5th I went to a production of Othello at Forest School. It was an excellent production. All the students acted so well and were beautifully costumed. The young man that played Iago was truly “evil” and really twisted Othello’s mind so craftily. As you know I love youth drama and this was a really good performance by all the cast.

On the 6th, in the morning, I was fortunate to present the Institute of Customer service Awards to some of our staff at Redbridge. I was really pleased that as the Mayor I was able to acknowledge the hard work and commitment shown by the people receiving their awards.

I followed that with a meeting at LVRPA and later on Maire and I went to the Launch of the Positive East Gay Men’s Health Promotion Day. We could not stay long as I had my Appeal meeting to run but we were made very welcome.

On the morning of the 7th Olive and I went to the Exchange to sing with Woodlands Infants School’s Carol Concert. We enjoyed being with the children and I know shoppers were delighted to see and listen to the children. The money they collected is going to my Appeal so I am grateful for that.

Later that afternoon we went to SS Peter and Paul’s Primary School to open their Christmas Bazaar. This was absolutely packed so I hope the school made lots of money for their funds.

In the evening we had a service for my Appeal. We had this at Christ Church, Wanstead. The service consisted of music from the Christchurch Choir and the Hainault Community Gospel Choir. It was a lovely service and marked the importance and the real meaning of Christmas for us.

We were so grateful for Revd Springett for allowing the service in his church and for the participation of various clergy. It was a wonderful evening.

The first thing on the agenda on the 8th was opening the Hospital Chapel Bazaar. As you know the Chapel is part of my Appeal so I was really pleased to do this.

In the afternoon we went to the Springfield Care Centre Christmas Bazaar.

I also officially opened a special “bar area” that has been created for residents and their families. This has been re-created in a 50’s time era and will I think prove very popular. Lee Scott was also there and we had a game of darts in this new area [magnetic] and I am pleased to say that I won!

In the late afternoon we went to the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Christmas party at The Marjorie Collins Centre. We were made very welcome and I was pleased to meet Marjorie Collins. Like all these organisations the work that the volunteers do is invaluable.

We finished the evening at the Ilford Choral Society’s Concert at Barnardo’s Church. It is always a pleasure to listen to this group. They sung Charpentier-Messe de Minuit and Britten – A Ceremony of Carols.

On Sunday the 9th we all went to the Ilford Federation Synagogue Candle Lighting Service for Chanukah. This was my first time in this synagogue and I found the ceremony interesting. The committee had put on a tea and entertainment for their elderly members, many of which were over eighty years old and some into their nineties!!

Later in the day we all went to Forest Boy’s School Christmas Carol Service. This was held in their lovely Chapel of St John the Baptist Chapel. It was a beautiful service. The choir sung magnificently. Music is a very important part of the curriculum at Forest and the pupils attain extremely high standards in both singing and playing a variety of instruments.

On Monday the 10th I caught up with some paper work in the daytime and had a New Years day Parade meeting in the evening. Our plans for the day are coming along well I am please to say.

The afternoon of Tuesday the 11th took me to the Redbridge Drama Centre for a production of A Christmas Carol performed by Oddsocks. Oddsocks are one of my favourite touring companies. They are absolutely brilliant and are so versatile. The production was hilarious.

In the evening Olive and I were back at Forest School for the Preparatory School’s Carol Service. This too was beautiful and I had the privilege of doing one of the readings.

On Wednesday, early evening, Olive and I were in the Exchange for Community Care’s annual Christmas Shopping Evening for the housebound and disabled. The residents involved were delighted to be there and it was rewarding to see so many young volunteers.

Following this we went to Forest School for their Christmas Concert. This involved all of the school, apart from the very young ones. It was excellent. Some wonderful singing by various choirs and truly exceptional instrumental and orchestra pieces by the talented young people.

Olive and I went back to Forest School early on the 13th to watch the Preparatory School’s Nativity Play. It was incredible, a joy to watch. The children all spoke up so well and were beautifully costumed. They were so confident and had an average age of just under six. It was just a pleasure to watch and will stay in my memory for a long time. As a teacher I am very aware of all the hard work that staff all put in preparing for all these events.

Later that afternoon we went down to Barnardos to switch on their tree lights. Children from Fullwood Primary came along and sung carols in front of the tree. They sung beautifully and it was a delight to be with them. It was really lovely.

This was a really busy day! In the evening we went to 241 Squadron’s Presentations. We were so pleased to hear about all the activities that the young people had done over the past year. How smart they looked and how proud their families were. It was a real pleasure for me to present the awards that recognised their achievements. The cadets were so enthusiastic and had taken part in such varied and wide ranging activities. These ranged from camps at home and abroad, gliding lessons and mountain climbing to name a few! These are youngsters that I am confident will be wonderful citizens of the future. I am proud to say some of these cadets will be representing Redbridge in the New Years Day Parade.

Friday the 14th was the day we drew the winning tickets for the Christmas Draw that was in aid of my Appeal. I am delighted to say this earned over £1800, a wonderful result.

Following this Olive and I attended the Redbridge Music School’s Annual Christmas Concert. This was delightful. Wonderful singing by all the choirs and some lovely orchestral pieces. So many talented young people. We can really be proud of our music service and the staff that work for the service. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Redbridge Music Service takes over the Albert Hall in my year as Mayor. This is a biennial event.

On the 15th we had a Table Top Sale for my Appeal in the Town Hall. My committee members worked so hard and we made about £900 for the Appeal, a great result. I had to go out for a short time in the middle of the day to officially re-open McDonalds at Barkingside. They had had a major refit. It has given the premises a whole new look and I wish them well.

The 16th had only one engagement so I was able to sort out some things that needed doing for my family Christmas! I went down to the continental market at Barkingside. This was in Craven Gardens car park. It was the first time we had tried to have such an event in Barkingside. Lots of lessons will be learnt from the venture. I was very pleased though to pick the winning ticket for the Continental Hamper and the recipient was equally pleased, more so probably!

On the 17th I had guests in the Parlour and later that day I was extremely privileged to hear and sign the Oath of Allegiance for twelve young men and women who were joining the army. They were lovely young people, so enthusiastic, committed and anxious to start their training. It was good to talk to them and their families and I wish them every success for the future.

Tuesday the 17th was a sad yet happy occasion. I went to the leaving party of Mrs Carole Minkey, Head Teacher at Coppice Primary. Carole has worked for Redbridge for thirtyone years. She has been an inspirational head and will be sadly missed. Her enrichment of so many young peoples lives cannot be counted. I wish her every happiness and success in this new phase of her life.

In the evening Olive and I hosted some of the Masala Group in the Parlour. They came to share the message of Christmas with us and to sing some carols with us.

On Wednesday the 19th Olive and I went to the Hainault Writers Christmas Get-together. It was a pleasure to meet up with the members of the group again as I have followed their progress over the years. They have gone from strength to strength and really enjoy meeting together and sharing their work. In the evening I travelled to Merton for the Mayor of Merton’s Festive Dinner in aid of his charity.

On the 20th Olive and I went to join in the Alzheimer’s Society Christmas Party. I cannot speak too highly of the care and support given by staff, relatives and volunteers to those suffering from this dreadful illness. So many people had worked so hard to make sure everyone had a lovely time and I was proud to show civic support to them. My mother had suffered from Alzheimers so I know at first hand exactly what it is like, both for families and those suffering from it.

Today, the 21st, I went with “Father Christmas” to give out presents to children at St John’s Special School.
As you can imagine the children were so excited and so pleased to see him. It was lovely to see the children with Santa. Many of the children have severe difficulties and I must pay tribute to the staff and parents for caring so well for these special children.

I haven’t any more official engagements until the New Years Day Parade. Preparations are well under way and I am confident that Redbridge’s entry will prove very entertaining for the people watching.

Do you go to the Parade? It is a really exciting event. Lots of floats, marching bands and entertainers. Thousands of people crowd the pavements to watch it pass. If you can go please do, it really is worth going to watch. We collect for my Appeal and hopefully will win some of the London Challenge money, something that all the other Boroughs will be competing for! If you cannot watch it in person look out for it on TV.

I will update you with how we got on after New Years Day and what we, in Redbridge, did.

I would like to thank you for reading my blog and to wish you a very Happy Christmas. I also hope that 2008 brings you peace and good health.

If you would like to donate online to my Mayoral Appeal, I’d be happy to receive any donations towards my chosen charities – Ilford Hospital Chapel and Victim Support Redbridge.