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Newsletter Nov 2003

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Newsletter Nov 2003 LondonThe Mayors’ Association www. londonmayors.org.uk NEWSLETTER No. 15 Christmas 2003 Inside: New Mayors’ Reception • Civic Service • Clarence House Visit QUEEN’S GALLERY SELL OUT TOUR In September, the London Mayors’ Association were honoured to be allowed to host a private view of the newly refurbished and extended Queen’s Gallery adjacent to Buckingham Palace, to view the major exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Drawings. The evening began with a fascinating lecture by one of the curators followed by a leisurely tour of the The Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham magnificent artifacts and paintings in the stunning Galleries. The Mayor & Mayoress of Kingston Upon Thames, The Mayor of Kensington & Chelsea & The Mayors of Merton & Waltham Forrest the Mayor & Mayoress of Sutton Editor in Chief: Cllr Robert Davis. Editor: Hazel Weinberg. Assistant Editor: Tom Howl. Secretary: Mrs Helen Watson, 7 Highview Court, 57a Augustus Rd, London SW19 6LU (tel: 020 8788 9656). Published by: The London Mayors’ Association, 8 Bentinck Street, London W1U 2BJ. The Queen’s Gallery After the tour of the Queen’s Gallery, Members adjourned to Westminster City Hall for a very enjoyable Dinner. Sheila Lyon & the Mayor & Mayoress of Barnet Cllr Ronnie Barden & Hon Ald Margaret Calcott James The Mayor of Greenwich & the Civic Ambassador or Newham The Mayor of Tower Hamlets & Mrs Gaye Branch Mr Stephen Bourne & the Mayor of Haringey NEW MAYORS’ RECEPTION elected Lord Mayor of London and his wife Patricia. The new Mayors were all impressed by the views from the Lord Mayor’s Parlour of the whole of central London. This was also a wonderful opportunity for everyone to meet each other. In fact, this year’s intake of new Mayors has been the most active in the The Mayors of Greenwich & Bromley London Mayors’ Association in recent years and now all but one of the 33 London Boroughs have their civic leader The Mayor and Mayoress of Hounslow as a member of the London Mayors’ Association. Shortly after the round of Mayor Making Ceremonies, the Lord Mayor of The evening was also an opportunity for Westminster, Cllr Jan Prendergast, one of our Sponsors, Bob Bone of the continued the new tradition of jointly London Parade, to tell all the new with the London Mayors’ Association Mayors about the New Year’s Day inviting all the newly elected Mayors of London Parade. the London Boroughs to a Reception in Westminster City The Lord Mayor of Westminster & the Mayor of Lambeth Hall. This year most of the newly elected Mayors attended as did Robert Finch the recently Helen Watson with the Mayor of Bexley The Mayoress of Brent, the Mayor of Hillingdon & the Civic Ambassador of Newham CIVIC SERVICE For the first time in many years, the Abbey making quite a sight. The Lord A reception followed in the Great Hall of London Mayors’ Association’s Annual Lieutenant of Greater London, Lord Westminster School at which the Lord Civic Service in Westminster Abbey saw Imbert accompanied by many of his Mayor of Westminster was presented every single London Borough Deputy Lieutenants also attended in with a Birthday Cake with a candle on, represented. uniform. which she blew out in a single puff to celebrate a special birthday that Twenty five Mayors, three Deputy The service was led by Canon Robert weekend. Mayors, the Speaker of Hackney, the Wright, Chaplain to the Speaker of the Chairman of Lewisham Council, the House of Commons. The full Thanks go to the Chapter and staff of Civic Ambassador of Newham and the Westminster Choir sang beautifully and Westminster Abbey, the Head Master of Lord Mayor of Westminster processed those present were fascinated by the Westminster School, Jenny Bianco fully robed and wearing full insignia, Sermon given by Monsignor Mark Caterers and Helen Watson for all preceded by their Macebearer and Mace Langham, Administrator of Westminster contributing to make this one of the best through the Cloisters of Westminster Cathedral. Civic Services in recent years. The Mayors of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham enjoy the post Service Reception The Mayor of Dagenham, her Macebearer and a bust of the first Queen Elizabeth The Mayor of Waltham Forest The Mayor of Lambeth preceded by his Macebearer The Speaker of Hackney followed by the Mayor of Greenwich Cllr Joe Trotter, Peter Moore the London Town Crier & Cllr Heather Johnson The Mayors of Richmond, Hillingdon & Havering Clarence House Visit The London Mayors’ Association were Those attending in the morning later the House during the late Queen one of the first (and possibly the last) met up at the East India Club in St Mother’s tenure, but had recently been group of people allowed the honour to James’s Square where a lavish light redecorated, whilst certain rooms had tour Clarence House, the current home lunch was served. Those attending in undergone major renovation under the and working office of the Prince of Wales the afternoon were given a sumptuous direction of the Prince of Wales. After the and before him, Her Majesty Queen afternoon tea including scones and tour, members then spent a little fortune Elizabeth The Queen Mother. cream as well as pastries and cakes. in the specialist gift shop in St. James’s Palace. A very special day for everyone Such was the popularity of this special The tour of the five State or entertaining who attended and as there are rumours visit that we had to double the number Rooms on the Ground Floor of Clarence that the Prince of Wales may not of tickets available and then turned House was very interesting, particularly continue to open Clarence House to away over 50 members who applied too because of the well briefed guides who visitors, a rare one too. Thanks go to late. As it was, 108 members attended explained everything about each of the Graham Holland who helped organise the staged visits in six groups of 18. rooms. Much was similar to the state of the day (Above) Members congregate outside the gates to Clarence House A portrait of the Queen as a young girl, in Clarence House Jonathan Munday & Cllr Doreen Weatherhead The Mayor of Merton and her consort after the visit to Clarence House Rosemarie Barden & purchases from the Clarence House gift shop Cllr Marie Collier enjoying a lavish tea at the East India Graham Holland & Cllr Robert Davis at tea in the East India Club Club after touring Clarence House The Summer Exhibition In July, members were honoured to be entertained by the President of the Royal Academy, Prof. Philip King CBE to Breakfast, then to a private view of the Summer Exhibition. We were given a tour of the exhibits by the President himself who was able to ‘try’ to explain what some of the exhibits were! Thanks go to Ronnie Raymond Cox who organised the very enjoyable and illuminating visit. Cllr Marie Collier Prof. Phillip King CBE President of the Royal Academy and Cllr Ronnie Raymond Cox (with a sculpture by Prof. King) Cllr Sheila Peacock & the Mayor of Barnet The Mayor and Mayoress of Kingston upon Thames Two Gentlemen of Verona Future New Mayor There is no better way to spend a balmy summer’s evening in July, than in the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park. And so the visit of the London Mayors’ Association was a wonderfully enjoyable occasion. Starting with supper and Pimms on the picnic lawn during a lovely sunny summer evening, the production of Shakespeare’s Two The Mayor & Mayoress of Sutton Gentlemen of Verona was innovative, colourful and very enjoyable. “A broad, sunny and sumptuously costumed new The Mayor of Camden with his wife and infant son production” said the Metro Newspaper. Attended by fifty members and a number of incumbent Mayors, this was a The Mayor of Camden, Cllr Nazim Ali and his wife Amanda highly enjoyable evening. have produced a potential new member of the London Mayors’ Association. Rio Ali was born in September and within weeks of his birth was performing his first mayoral engagement as escort to the Mayor of Camden at the London Mayors’ Association Civic Service. He was the recipient of more kisses than even the Lord Mayor of Westminster, but despite this, Rio behaved himself throughout the service, not even crying when his Dad processed past fully robed. In fact, he slept throughout both the Service and Reception. April in Paris Cllr Ronnie Barden with actors from Two Gentlemen of Verona Cllr Robert Davis with the stars of the show Martin Barrass & Leda Hodgson The Mayors of Waltham Forest & Camden with their Mayoresses The London Mayors’ Association were treated to a wonderful evening in August with a splendid Dinner at the Opus LONDON MAYORS’ MASONIC LODGE Restaurant in the Mayfair Intercontinental Hotel followed by the best seats in the house for a production of John Godbar’s There is a Masonic Lodge in London which was formed in 1911 in order that Mayors and Past Mayors of London Boroughs could meet and where the comedy April in Paris at the Mayfair Theatre. The Members discussion of politics and religion was not permitted. That rule still holds good attending thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were greatly and the Lodge, although it now has an open membership with only four past amused by the play about a northern couple who win a Mayors still in active membership, continues to meet regularly in Freemasons competition with the prize being their first visit abroad. Hall and dines together after the meeting. Laughter was in the air as we watched them try French food If you would like further details, please contact Cllr.
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