5. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

The Mayor, Mayoress, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress have had a busy time since the last Council meeting on 19 February visiting many organisations and residents within the Royal Borough.

One of the highlights during my year as Mayor has been the many competitions held by the Rotary clubs and other clubs, including the Lions Club in the Royal Borough. One such competition was the Thames Rotary Mathemagician 2013 for school years 3, 4, 5 & 6. There were two sessions with over 15 junior schools taking part. We must thank the Council officer who helped organise this competition, Shelly Duffy. The excitement in the room at the Holiday Inn in Maidenhead was a joy to behold.

The Mayor and Mayoress attended the Dedication of the seat to Rifleman Daniel Hume at Boyn Grove, Maidenhead. His parents, family and friends had worked so hard to raise the money to build this wonderful circular bench and plant a cherry tree at Boyn Grove in memory of this brave soldier who was once a schoolboy at Furze Platt School. We also had the privilege of meeting his Commanding Officer when he fell in battle. On the memorial day, ten of his fellow soldiers who served with him in Afghanistan came to pay their respects and give support to Daniel Hume's parents and family. These young men were returning to war 14 days after this memorial service. We wish them well and a safe journey.

On the coldest day in spring for over 100 years, the Mayor was asked to start the Coldstream Guards steeplechase in Windsor Great Park. 500 men and women of the Coldstream Guards, including their Commanding Officer, had to run 10 miles through the thickest mud in Windsor Great Park. At certain points they had to swim in icy cold water to complete the course. Over 10 men completed the course in less than an hour. They informed me that they will now be stationed in Windsor until 2017. We are now working very closely with them and I believe we will soon be signing the Army Covenant.

Each year, as Captain of the Mayor’s Team, Andrew Scott organises the annual golf match between the Mayor’s Golf Team v Maidenhead Golf Club. The Mayor hit the first ball to start off the match. Unfortunately, after a good game, the Mayor's team was beaten by 4.5 points to 2.5 points and Maidenhead Golf Club retained the trophy. It was the best result for ten years for the Mayor’s team. The best shot of the tournament goes to Cllr. Dudley whose t-shot went into the woods but ricocheted onto the green and was nearly a hole in one. A celebration meal was held in the evening.

My wife and I have had the privilege to invite many different groups of residents and voluntary organisations to both Mayor Parlours in the last three months. These have been moments of great joy for us with much laughter and education. During one visit, we invited a Rainbow group from Maidenhead to hold their meeting in the Mayor's parlour in the Town Hall. After the meeting, they sang their Rainbow song, as they came down the stairs into the lobby. It was such a joy to hear singing in the Town Hall and report a big smile to their parents waiting for them to be collected.

On another occasion, we invited the Scout group to the Mayor's parlour in the Guildhall and we finished the meeting off in the Council Chamber where we played on board ship and sang the national anthem. This is a great memory for my wife and I, and I think the Scouts had a great time too! 24

The Mayor, Mayoress and our dog, Stubbings, were invited to Manor Green School for their Friday assembly. We have got to know many parents who have children who attend this excellent school. They are so pleased that they have such a fantastic facility within the Royal Borough, but for most, the standard of the teachers is incredible. After the assembly, they sang us a song and cheered at our dog. We were then invited to attend the coffee morning for parents at Manor Green School, Maidenhead. We sat and chatted for over an hour and a half to these parents.

Meetings

• Royal Borough’s Twinning Committee • Spoore, Merry Rixman Foundation • Pooles and Rings Charity • Royal Albert Institute Trust • Samuel Lewis Old Age Pension Fund • Rotary International Breakfast meeting to mark International Women’s Day • Windsor Talking Newspaper AGM • Hosted meeting with Starbucks • Royal Windsor Walkway meeting • Ascot Alzheimers AGM

Schools/Clubs/Community etc

• Transforming Maidenhead event held at Adobe offices • Windsor and Eton Society Annual Dinner • Hungerford Star Annual Dinner TA 94 ( Yeomanry) Signal Squadron • Opened “My Controller” Accountancy office in Windsor • Windsor Parish Church development presentation • Launched wellbeing clinic at Windsor Leisure Centre • Attended coffee morning at Manor Green School, Maidenhead • Women’s World Day of Prayer Service, Maidenhead High Street Methodist Church • Hosted Rainbows visit to Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall • Chertsey Agricultural Association Dinner at the Guildhall • Started and presented prizes at the Maidenhead Thames Rotary Bunny Fun Run • Windsor Lions Spring Lunch for senior citizens • 2nd anniversary and charity night at the Hungry Eye Gurkha Restaurant, Windsor • Attended two sessions of the Maidenhead Thames Rotary Mathemagician 2013 for school years 3, 4, 5 & 6 • Several citizenship ceremonies • Age Concern and East Berkshire 1st anniversary celebrations at the St Marks shop, Maidenhead • Attended the celebrations at Windsor Castle to mark the opening of the Konami Digital Entertainment new European HQ in Windsor • Fairtrade assembly at Clewer Green First School, Windsor • Participated in the Lent Reflections at Windsor Parish Church • Hosted reception “Magna Carta and the Law” • Visited the Oxfam Afternoon Tea as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, Cookham • Freedom Ceremony for David Oram 25

• Participated in TV filming for the Royal Windsor Horse Show preparations • Attended the “Alternative University” event in the Desborough Suite, Town Hall • Royal Ascot street collection charity draw • National Apprenticeships Week event at Legoland, Windsor • Sport England press launch at Marlow Rowing Club, Bisham • Dedication of seat to Rifleman Daniel Hume, Boyn Grove, Maidenhead • Hosted reception and viewing of civic insignia for Maidenhead Thames Rotary Club • Attended the 74th birthday tea of Windsor and Eton Inner Wheel • Hosted reception for the Windsor Festival International String Competition • Recorded an Easter message for the Maidenhead Talking Newspaper • Started the Coldstream Guards steeplechase in Windsor Great Park • Attended the Old Maidonians Annual Dinner • Age Concern Slough and Berkshire East fundraising Dinner Dance • Braywick Heath Nursery Afternoon Tea and anniversary celebrations • Windsor Rugby Football Club lunch in the presence of HRH Duke of Edinburgh • “Poetry by Heart” Berkshire County Finals • Woodland Trust Diamond Jubilee tree planting in Sunningdale • “Graduation” ceremony Wessex Primary School, Maidenhead • Rotary Windsor St George dinner and meeting • Accepted portrait of Her Majesty the Queen from Mr Reg Dennison • Hosted Maidenhead Rotary Club senior citizens for afternoon tea and viewing of civic insignia • Started and presented medals at Maidenhead Easter Ten 60th anniversary race • Participated in the Maidenhead Churches Together Good Friday Walk of Witness • 3rd Old Windsor Brownies/Guides fundraising Easter Egg Hunt • Presented title belt at boxing event, Magnet Leisure Centre • Attended Easter Sunday morning service at Windsor Parish Church • Windsor and Slough Chrysanthemum Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society • Hosted a couple of dinners in the Guildhall Windsor for local organisations • Hosted the Chinese Bible Study Group in the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall • Opened Maidenhead Painting Club exhibition • Launched the “Friends of Windsor Parish Church” • Mayor’s Golf Team v Maidenhead Golf Club – started off event and joined the teams for evening meal • Attended the Mayor of Greenwich Annual Charity Dinner • Sealed Knot 1977 Silver Jubilee trees – rededication ceremony in Windsor Great Park • Service of Holy Communion for the 140th anniversary of St Marks Hospital Church, Maidenhead • Visited the fundraising craft fair for PACE (children’s disability charity) at Bisham Abbey • Swearing in of the new High Sheriff • Welcomed a Chinese delegation to the Borough • Hosted directors meeting for Lions Club of Maidenhead in the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall • Visited Maidenhead Clock Tower • Maidenhead Lions Swimathon Presentation evening

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• Participated in various events during the twinning/mayoral weekend • Attended the Royal Navy Parade for Maidenhead Sea Cadets • Led the 21 Royal gun salute for Her Majesty’s birthday • Visited Sunningdale Bowls Club during their centenary celebrations • Attended the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution dinner • Attended the National Scout Parade and Service at Windsor Castle • Maidenhead District Scouts St George’s Day event and renewal of promises • Street Angels 1st anniversary celebrations in Windsor

Concerts/Shows

• Grimm Players “The Sound of Music” • Windsor Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra concert at • Windsor Theatre Guild “When We Are Married” • Windsor and Eton Choral Society concert at Eton College • Final of the Windsor Festival International String Competition • Royal Free Singers 40th anniversary concert • Montgomery Holloway Music Trust concert • People to Places Fundraising Concert • Maidenhead Drama Festival

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