Mayor Christine May Blog – September 2018

Hello everyone.  September was a busy month and I thought I would share with you some of my highlights.

 

Forever Young Festival

I spent a great few hours at the Forever Young Festival on 7th September.  Organised by the Greenwich Carers Centre and held in the grounds of Charlton House and The Stables, SE7.

This was a wonderful event aiming to bring socially isolated individuals and the wider community together in the spirit of celebration and entertainment.  It was a free event which also included music, food and performances.

“No one alone in Greenwich” was the message.

There were 35 voluntary sector organisations who were involved and had stalls on the day.  It was great to go around speaking to them all.

A big thank you to the Greenwich Carers Centre and all the volunteers for putting on such a great event.

 

The Merchant Navy Commemorative Service and Reunion

I had the honour to attend the Merchant Navy Day Commemorative Service and Reunion held on 9th September at Trinity Square Gardens, Tower Hill.  I laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.  A very moving ceremony.

 

Shooters Hill Sixth Form College

I was invited to the Student Award evening at Shooters Hill Sixth Form College on 13th September.  A very special evening. I had the great pleasure of presenting the students their awards and wished those students who were  leaving, good luck for their future careers.

 

Across the borough

Went across the Borough on 15th September.  Started at the Thamesmead 5K at the Sporting Club Thamesmead.  No, I didn’t take part but helped start the run and gave out medals together with the Mayor of Bexley.  This event was organised by Peabody.

I then visited the Abbey Wood Village Food and Craft market held in the car park of the Abbey Arms.   The event was put on to help promote the area.

It is a lovely market and was  warmly received by everyone.  I had to draw the raffle.

Finally I had to rush over to Greenwich Park to meet and join the photo-call with the Blackheath Cricket Club, who had become Premier League Champions.

My congratulations to them.

 

Visit by Mulgrave Primary School

I had the pleasure of a visit from the Junior leaders of key stage 1 and 2 from Mulgrave Primary School.

We had a really good debate in the Council Chamber about should there be more school holidays or less? We had a vote and the children voted  overwhelmingly to have less school holidays not more!!

The children also got a chance to dress up in robes and the chain and become Mayors for the day.  They sang Happy Birthday to me as it was my birthday the day before!

It was a lovely surprise!!

 

Another busy day

In the morning of 21st September, I attended the unveiling of a plaque at the Children’s Therapy Department at Goldie Leigh, AbbeyWood.

 

The Albany Taxi Charity paid for  interactive flooring to be installed and the Therapy department wanted to put up a plaque to thank the charity.  Some of the children were there to show us  how the interactive flooring worked.  Amazing bit of technology. Thank you so much to the Albany Taxi Charity for making such an amazing donation.

 

Next, together with The Leader, Councillor Danny Thorpe, we received in the Mayor’s Parlour, members of the National Emergency Services Memorial, who were promoting the creation of an official annual Emergency Services Day, which will take place on the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month every year.

Over one million people work in the British emergency services today, many of whom are volunteers and more than 7,000 personnel have lost their lives in the course of their duties.

Finally, in the evening, I attended the Greenwich in Bloom Presentation evening in Woolwich Town Hall, organised by Parks, Estates and Open Spaces.

It was a pleasure to present to the winners their certificates, vouchers and awards and thanked them for bringing the love for gardening to the Greenwich In Bloom competition this year. All their hard work in creating such wonderful displays, which make the Borough a bright and colourful place to work and live.  

 

The next day

In the morning, I visited Greenwich Car Free Day.  Despite the weather,  lots of people came to support this day.  With the roads closed to cars, businesses opened out onto the street, joining street performers, activities for kids, live music and there was even a beach.

I then went on to support the Annual Woolwich Carnival which took place in General Gordon Square, SE18.  This is organised by the Woolwich Carnival Association, a voluntary committee of local residents, community groups, art organisations and schools that have joined together to create a day of celebration and festivities for the local community.

I visited last year when I was Deputy Mayor, so I was delighted to return as Mayor.  The theme of the carnival was “Many Roots; One Tree” celebrating the diversity of the Borough.

Then in the evening I finished the day by attending Greenwich Mencap Singerfest at Eltham Park Methodist Church.  This was a very enjoyable evening of song, being held to raise funds for Greenwich Mencap, a charity supporting both adults and children with a learning disability in the Borough.

 

Congratulations!

On 24th September, I was delighted to visit Waterside SEMH Primary School, who had been awarded the prestigious National Nuturing Schools Award for their excellent work and ethos.

I was delighted to present the award to the school in an assembly.  The children were so excited.  The award is awarded by nutureuk to schools that have  demonstrated exemplary practice in embedding nurturing culture through out their schools.  Waterside SEMH is the first School in London to receive this prestigious award. Well done Waterside, congratulations. The first school in London and its us The Royal Borough of Greenwich. Thank you.

On the same day, I also met with Craig from Cleansweep in Abery Street, Plumstead, who has been doing a great job, keeping our Borough clean for many years.

Mayor

 

APPEALING TO YOU!

I would like to round up my September blog with a mention of my charities for my Mayoral year.  I am supporting Emmaus Greenwich the Homeless Charity and Demelza Hospice Care for Children and Young Adults SEL - Eltham.

Emmaus Greenwich is based in Plumstead and is a homeless charity.  “Their  aim is to establish and maintain a successful community for previously homeless people; enabling them, through the provision of accommodation and work in a self-supporting social enterprise, to recover their dignity, regain control over their lives, and generate the wherewithal to help those less fortunate than themselves."

Demelza Children’s and Young Adults Hospice SEL which is based in Eltham. “Demelza provides professional, specialist, one-to-one care and support and access to life-enhancing facilities for babies, children and young adults up to the age of 19.

For life to be better for those who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions; and for their parents, brothers and sisters, and those who love them, to receive support. 

To influence the care and support provided by others.”

I’m hoping to raise as much money as possible for both deserving Charities.

If you wish to support my charities, please contact my office on Tel: 020 8921 5023.  Cheques should be made payable to the “Mayor’s Charity Appeal”, and can be sent to the Mayor’s Office, Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich, SE18 6PW.

 

You can follow the Mayor of Royal Greenwich on Instagram – chris.the.mayor, Twitter - @chris.the.mayor and Facebook – christhemayor.