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LondonThe Mayors’ Association www.londonmayors.org.uk NEWSLETTER No. 35 Spring 2016 ROBERT DAVIS ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AS CHAIRMAN fter eighteen years as Chairman of the London AMayors’ Association, Councillor Robert Davis has announced, he will not seek re-election as Chairman at the AGM in July 2016. Robert took over as Chairman in July 1998 after which he turned the Association around, making it the success and respected Association it is today. The first thing he did, was to introduce a regular Newsletter to members (there had been no such publication before) and then organised the first professionally organised foreign trip to Switzerland. Robert as Lord Mayor 1996-7 Other initiatives he introduced in the months and years that followed included a series of fascinating visits; diplomatic dinners; the Mayoral Secretaries lunch; the new Mayors Reception and Induction Day. The Annual Dinner also became a highlight of the year and moved from being hosted in Robert & The Queen at the LMA’s Centenary Reception in 2001 Council venues to Five Star Editor: Cllr Robert Davis MBE DL. Editorial Contributions by Helen Watson PRODUCED BY MANOR GROUP, EASTBOURNE Published by: The London Mayors’ Association, 7 Highview Court, 57a Augustus Road, London SW19 6LU ROBERT DAVIS ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AS CHAIRMAN CONT.. London Hotels. He also successfully obtained sponsorship for many of the Association events. Made one of Her Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenants for his work for the London Mayors’ Association he was recently invested with an MBE by The Prince of Wales in recognition of his work in Local Government. Currently, Deputy Leader of Westminster Council, Robert first became involved in the LMA when he became the then youngest Lord Mayor of Westminster in 1996. Robert claims the highlight of his Chairmanship came in December 2001 when he hosted a Reception for the London Mayors’ Association to celebrate its Centenary, at St. James’s Palace, which was graced by the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The next AGM to be held on Monday 18th July 2016 (at 5pm) will elect a new Chairman. Robert’s MBE investiture JIM MADDEN OBE Congratulations go to Cllr Jim Madden who was awarded the OBE for services to policing and community safety in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List. Jim is shown in the photograph with his granddaughter Rebecca Madden who accompanied him to the Palace. 22 OLÉ – CIVIC VISIT TO SPAIN 2016 Cllr Oonagh Moulton outside the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba ednesday 9 March – 73 Members Wleft Gatwick mid-afternoon to arrive in Seville early evening and after a quick check in at the hotel a really good buffet supper before bed and anticipation of the day ahead. Hon Ald Patrick Codd and the Chairman of Lewisham Council in the Cordoba Cathedral Thursday 10 March – after a magnificent Spanish Restaurant our Guides took us buffet breakfast, we met our local Guides to the Cathedral of Seville – the Magna who escorted us on a tour of the Real Hispalensis – the third largest Church in Alcázar (The Royal Palace of Seville) the world. A truly magnificent example which demonstrates the cultural diversity of Spanish Gothic style with its vast and of Seville – a Roman necropolis, a wonderful altar and stained glass window Christian Basilica and a Visigoth building. behind, the gigantic Organ and huge area for a Congregation to be seated. It also Late morning members were received by houses the mausoleum of Christopher the Deputy Mayor of Seville in the City Columbus and its magnificent tower the Hall where Seville ‘Giralda’ seen throughout Seville is a local politics was worldwide symbol of the City. explained. Gifts were exchanged After a short free time for shopping followed by a it was time for Dinner at the Abades tour of the JIM MADDEN OBE Triana in the Triana district. A well building. chosen, beautifully situated restaurant Following with huge plate glass windows giving an lunch in uninterrupted view of the Golden Tower, a typical the Giralda Tower, the La Maestranza Bullring and the Guadalquiver River. All The Chairman gives to admire while enjoying a lovely meal a gift to the Deputy and good company. Mayor of Cordoba 3 2016 FOREIGN CONT.. CIVIC VISIT Cllr Muhammed Javed in Seville Felicity Banks in the L’Ahambra Palace Cllrs John Hinkley and Jean Lammiman Lord Palmer and the Mayor of Seville Esther Adeyeye in the in the Royal Alcazar Seville Cordoba Cathedral Cllr Oonagh Moulton in the Plaza Antonios & Barbara Yerlemou in the Cllr Hardial Singh Rai and Inder Sigh Jamu Dawn Somper and Hon Ald Anne Mallinson in the L’Ahambra Palace de Espana in Seville L’Ahambra Palace outside Seville’s Cathedral Friday 11 March – Some of the Delegation led us to, and through, the old Tobacco started the day with a visit to meet the Factory (where Carmen worked!) and Mayor of Seville whilst the others set is now a University. The walking tour off to walk to the wonderful Maria ended with a walk through the old Jewish Luisa Park which Princess Maria Luisa Quarter – today its quiet narrow streets gave to the city before she died and the are filled with museums, chapels and magnificent and truly grand Plaza de souvenir shops. España. Leaving the park the guides 4 4 Sue and Tony Polydorou with Cllr Frances Stainton in the Bob & Wenda Belam in Tio Pepe Distillery in Jerez the Tio Pepe Distillery Lord & Lady Palmer in the L’Ahambra Palace Esther Adeyeye in the Cllr Robert Davis and the Mayor of Grenada Veronica and Tony Kerslake Philip Kelly and Dorothy Cordoba Cathedral outside the Flamenco Restaurant Jones in Seville Cllr Hardial Singh Rai and Inder Sigh Jamu Dawn Somper and Hon Ald Anne Mallinson in the L’Ahambra Palace The Mayor of Hillingdon, the Chairman of Lewisham Council outside Seville’s Cathedral and the Mayor of Seville An hour or so coach journey took us signatures of celebrities who have visited, to Jerez and the renowned Gonzalez including some very well-known British Byass Sherry and Brandy cellars. Taken personalities. on a tour of the cellars the process for sherry distillery was explained, and The Mayor of Jerez de la Frontera, Da. the huge casks containing the wine Maria Carmen Sanchez Diaz joined aging to perfection admired along with members for lunch in the Cellars the commemorative casks bearing the restaurant where three Sherries were 5 Geri and Bob Bone in Myfanwy and Anthony 2016 FOREIGN the Seville City Hall Wallace in Jerez with an Easter Friend CONT.. CIVIC VISIT Ronnie Barden in the L’Ahambra Palace Cllr Tony Ramsey and Cllr Jeanette Michael and Esther Adeyeye in the Lord Palmer with the Deputy Mayor of Cordoba Alexander in Cordoba’s Cathedral Royal Alcazar Seville Members meet the Deputy Mayor of Cordoba Sue & Tony Polydorou in the City Hall in Seville tasted while enjoying Tapas. After lunch it Saturday 12 March – After breakfast it was off to the historic centre of Jerez and to was a two hour coach drive to Córdoba – visit Palacio del Virrey Lasema dating back a beautiful City with its cobbled streets, to 1264. It was given by King Alfonso X to Moorish white houses with patios, one of his Christian Knights and it passed balconies and flowers. Members were through that family for generations. welcomed to the City and received by the Deputy Mayor at the Alcazar of Córdoba. Returning to Seville, Dinner was accompanied by an excellent Flamenco After lunch a guided walking tour took show. us through the City Centre, one of 6 A number of Members attend an early morning meeting with the Mayor of Seville Myfanwy and Anthony Wallace in Jerez John & Lord Palmer with the Deputy Mayor of Cordoba Cllrs Angela & David Harvey Lizzie Bone in the Seville Myfanwy Wallace and Dawn Somper Pat Clark in Seville City Hall in the Cordoba Mosque-Catheral in Seville Sue & Tony Polydorou in the Helen Watson in the Gonzalas Bob Skelly and Hon Ald Beryl Barbara & Antonios Yerolemou City Hall in Seville Byass Distillery Jeffery in Cordoba in Seville’s City Hall the largest UNESCO World Heritage Sunday 14 March – a two hour coach sites, with its old Jewish Quarter and journey took us to Grenada situated at the distinctive Moorish Medieval Streets. foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The walking tour ended by visiting the Members were greeted by the Mayor Mosque-Cathedral – probably the only of Grenada, D. José Torres Hurtado Islamic-Christian building in the world. who joined us for a typical traditional It is a wonder of both Islamic, dating Andalusian lunch. It was then off to the back to the years 784/6 and 13th Century Alhambra, which is thought to be the Christian architecture side by side in most important example of Moorish art one building. in Europe. A huge complex of buildings: 7 2016 FOREIGN CIVIC VISIT CONT.. Royal Palaces, reflecting pools and fountains from the Nasrid dynasty and the fountains and gardens of the very famous Generalife gardens. And so off to Malaga Airport and our flight back to Gatwick. Ciar Brennan and her father Sean Cllr Michael Markham in Seville Thanks to Bob, Geri and Lizzie Bone Brennan in the L’Ahambra Palace Cathedral of Destination Events who planned and arranged the LMA Overseas Civic Visit, not forgetting Theresa Davis, Bob’s PA who contributes a great deal to the planning and administration of these visits. Wenda Belam and Cllr Bryan Collier Cllr Leslie McDonnell in Jerez Cllr Michael Tickner and Dr Sarah Dalton outside the Seville Bullring The Chairman presents a gift to the Mayor of Jerez Hon Ald Beryl Jeffery and the Chairman of Lewisham Council with his wife Sandra Adefiranye in Seville’s City Hall Jila and Ronnie Barden in the Rosemary Markham in the Tio Pepe Distillery Jerez L’Ahambra Palace 8 TOUR OF APSLEY HOUSE huge thanks to Ashley We then all enjoyed a AStimpson and her sumptuous dinner at excellent Tour Guides at Westminster City Hall Apsley House who gave which was superbly catered us our wonderful Tour of by Jenny Bianco.