Becoming Mayor of Lambeth

On 1^st April 2009 I was elected by councillors from all parties to become Mayor of Lambeth at a ceremony held in the council chamber.

At the ceremony I was proposed by Councillor Steve Reed, the leader of the council and seconded by Councillor Ashley Lumsden, the leader of the opposition – who both gave speeches outlining why they were proposing me as Mayor. After councillors elected me as their Mayor I entered the council chamber where I read and signed a pledge of office.

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Angie Meader, then lead me out of the chamber to the Mayors parlour where I was dressed in the chains and badge of office for the first time.

On returning to the chamber I read a short speech where I outlined the charities that I will be supporting this year, together with outlining my focus for the year.

Following my speech I chaired a short meeting where the council agreed the make up of the cabinet and committees. Here I also conducted my first vote, which is required when not all councillors agree on a decision, which is done electronically.

After the meeting I held a reception in the Mayors parlour where guests from the evening and councillors joined me to celebrate the forthcoming civic year.

Read Full Post »

Le Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School Certificate Awards Ceremony

On 15 December I attended La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ Schools Certificate Awards Ceremony. The event was preceded by the annual carol service which included readings from the students, a medley of music from the school band and of course the school choir singing a selection of seasonal music.

Councillor Florence Nosegbe was the nights guest of honour, presenting certificates to students and she gave an excellent speech talking about how she had come from a similar background as many of the students and had gone on to University and now an elected councillor in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Read Full Post »

Metropolitan Police service passing out parade

On Friday 12th December I attending the Metropolitan police service passing out parade for the student intake 02/08-9. Students passing out that will be coming to Lambeth were trained at Croydon, and during the day I met with them and their families. They will come to Brixton and Kennington where they had spent time whilst training.

Their proud parents had come from far and wide, I met one students family whose mother had worked for Lambeth and other local authorities in the past but now lived abroad.

Whilst at the event I met with the current Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow, the first borough I had lived in as a child. Whilst talking I discovered that Councillor John Nickolay was my councillor when I was three years old and that his first child was born two months after me at the same hospital in Kingsbury.

Read Full Post »

Bereavement Centre Launch, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital

On Tuesday 25 November I attended the launch of the Bereavement Centre at St Thomas’ Hospital.

Supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, the Beareavement Centre is housied in a private space which allows staff to provide practival help and informal support to bereaved people.  I was interested to learn of the ‘tell us once’ project that works to help the bereaved deal with issues such as cancelling benefits, pensions etc and register a death without the need to return to the registry  office at a very difficult time.

The centre was officially opened by Baroness Neuberger DBE who I was interested to discover was once a constituent in Clapham Town Ward, living in Orlando Road.

Read Full Post »

Lambeth Living Tenants Conference

On Saturday 15 November 2008 I attended the Lambeth Living Tenants Conference 2008.

The annual conference was held this year at Lambeth Town Hall and I attended on behalf of the Mayor of Lambeth to host tea with delegates and the annual prize draw.

Read Full Post »