New blog for Mayor of Lambeth

For the latest from the Mayor of Lambeth please visit my new blog at

http://www.wellbelove.com/index.php/category/mayor-of-lambeth/

2009 Dean Lecture with Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP

This years Dean Lecture at Goldsmiths College was delivered by Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for the Olympics, Cabinet Office, and Minister for London… among several of her responsibilities.

Mayor of Lambeth with the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP

Tessa spoke about the future of London: the city that will emerge from the economic downturn and the role of London 2012 in fuelling the economic recovery, bringing communities closer together and driving positive social change.

Mayor of Lambeth at Goldsmiths following the lecture by Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP

Tessa is a past student of Goldsmiths and has long term connections with the area. She was asked a some tough questions by the audience; something I guess you should expect from a lecture at Goldsmiths.

Lambeth Pensioners Action Group 30th Anniversary

Lambeth Pensioners Action Group has a rich and long history of campaigning for issue that effect pensioners over the last 30 years. The event was supported by Lambeth council who provided the Assembly Hall and a large buffet for all who attended.

Mayor of Lambeth at LAMPAG's 30th Anniversary

Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall; Steve Reedd, leader of the council; Cllr Daphne Marchant, president of the LAMPAG and Cllr Lorna Campbell, Cabinet member for care and health all came to meet and chat with members and friends of LAMPAG,.

London Mayors Association Annual Civic Service

This service is incorporated in the regular Abbey service of Evensong, which follows the custom of churches with a great choral tradition, where much of the service is sung by the choir alonge. In those parts where the congregation is invited to make its offering of praise this is done by responding to the beauty of the choir’s music.

Mayors and former Mayors following the civic service

The service includes a procession of the Mayors of the London Boroughs entering the Collegiate Church and the moving to the Quire. The Lord Mayor of Westminster in Civic State was then received and is conducted to his stall in the Quire.

Mayor of Lambeth with friends who attended the service

This is one of a few events in the year where a majority of Mayors from across London come together and it is most definately a sight to be seen of over 30 men and women in red robes and chains walking into Westminster Abbey.

Mayor of Bromley’s Charity Appeal

The Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Douglas Auld, was holding a speacial event to support his charity this year, the Kent Association For the Blind.

Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Douglass Auld

The evening took the form of a fun and informal wine appreciation evening with Quiz and tasting.

Mayor of Lambeth with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley

It was really interesting to hear and learn about different wines and whilst the Mayor of Bromley’s team, which I was on, didn’t win we all had a brilliant time.

Mayors from several London Boroughs came to support the Mayor of Bromley including the Mayor and Mayoress of Greenwich; which was the second time I had seen the Mayor of Greenwich that day following his earlier visit to Lambeth for the Wellness Games.

Clapham Pottery’s New site

Clapham Pottery is a very succesful community organisation which ahead of it’s redevelopment has moved from Clapham Leisure Centre to this lovely site in the Old Chapel at 4a Rectory Grove.

Mayor of Lambeth with some of the work of Clapham Potters

Clapham Pottery is a busy self-funding and not-for-profit community pottery, offering pottery classes for all ages and all abilities. Pottery classes are held during the daytime and evenings for adults and kids, over a 10 week term, with a half term break. Weekend courses for adults are available on a monthly basis.

Mayor of Lambeth cutting the ribbon to officially open Clapham Pottery

Clapham Pottery classes are taught by professional, working potters from The North Street Potters, which was established in Clapham in 1978.

Mayor of Lambeth with Naine Woodrow for Clapham Potters

I was pleased to have the opportunity to personally thank Naine Woodrow, a long term member of the North Street Potters and a key driver behind this project and Clapham Potters. The whole team provide an invaluable service to the local community and beyond and it was wonderful to see their longer team future at the heart of Clapham.

Aardvark Recycling

Aardvark recycling is a not-for-profit social enterprise specialising in food waste collection and processing services to residents and businesses.

Mayor of Lambeth with the Aardvark team

Their profits are ploughed back into local environmental improvement projects, including healthy eating initiatives and a real nappy scheme for south London.

 

Mayor of Lambeth with Natasha Harris from Aardvark Recycling

 

The food waste is broken down into high quality compost which they offer to local community groups and individuals. Last year Aardvark Recyling diverted 50 tonnes of residential food waste from landfill. They turned that waste into high quality compost that local community groups and individuals could use to fertilise gardens, allotments, parks, window boxes and pot plants.

 

Processed food waste breaks down into compost

It was great to tour the site and gain, once I got used to the smell, a better understanding of how the system works – and see the rich healthy compost that they produce.