31st October - Mayor of Poole Talks Food
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met Mr Gordon Alder of the Poole Rotary Club in her Parlour to arrange catering for the planned Beating of the Sea Bounds in April 2007.
The Rotary Club have kindly agreed to organize the Beating of the Sea Bounds Dinner after the day's exciting events next April 28th. The venue has been booked at St Mary's Church Hall, Wimborne Road and the outside caterers ‘Dine In' will be providing a delicious three course meal, there will be music and dancing and a super evening for all. For more information contact Jo Clements on 01202 633200 email j.clements@poole.gov.uk.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The setting up of the Beating of the Sea Bounds Ceremony is a huge task and one that I began in February of this year as Sheriff. There are over 17 individual organizations working with me as a team to make this a really special day for everyone concerned. So please put the day in your diaries and join us all for a trip back into the past and see some of Poole's ancient history and age old traditions brought to life. See you there!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Gordon Alder of the Poole Rotary Club discussing catering for the planned Beating of the Sea Bounds in April 2007.
31st October - Mayor of Poole Presents Rotary Awards
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, entertained 18 guests in her Parlour, to present the Poole Rotary Club Volunteer fundraising awards.
The two award winners were Mr Derek Dunning, a Borough of Poole employee, who raised £386 for Julia's House and the ‘Tut Tut' Team, comprising Roger, Julie and Chris Tutton who raised £317 for Macmillan Cancer Support, all completing a 7 mile walk from Upton Park to Sandbanks earlier in the year (see Mayor's Diary 11th June). In a separate presentation, the Mayor handed a cheque for £500, raised during the same event, to Mr Jim Keating and Miss Abigail Thorne of the Youth Cancer Trust.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I remember the walk well and we all had a super morning, a few aches and pains at the end but also a huge amount of money raised for very worthy charities. It was good to be able to personally thank people like Derek who keeps my parlor spotless for me and is always ready to help, and the ‘Tut Tut' team which encompasses three generations between them, their selflessness makes such a huge difference to so many and we all keep fit and well into the bargain!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr John Duckenfield of Poole Rotary Club, presenting a cheque to the Youth Cancer Trust at the Poole Rotary Club Volunteer fundraising awards.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Derek Dunning of Borough of Poole, who raised £386 for Julia's House, at the Poole Rotary Club Volunteer fundraising awards.
31st October - Mayor of Poole to Host Chief Scout
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, held a meeting with Mr Terry Gorman of the Scout Association about the planned Brownsea Island Celebrations next year.
There is a whole host of events being put in place for next year's Scouting Centenary Celebrations, including an international Scout Camp on Brownsea Island where scouts world wide will be represented. The reason for the celebration is that Baden Powell held his first Scout Camp on the Island on July 29th 1907. A replica of the Camp will be running on Brownsea Island in the summer of 2007 with the original programme and activities of 1907!
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I am delighted to have been asked by the Scout Association, to host a business reception to launch the celebratory centenary year, where local and national businesses will be visiting the Island and finding out more about this very special event, it is hoped that sponsorship can be secured as a direct outcome of this gathering. Peter Duncan our National Chief Scout appointed by the Queen (of Blue Peter fame) will be attending the launch, it is hoped that the event will be well supported by local Poole residents as well as our visitors."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Terry Gorman of the Scout Association discussing the planned Brownsea Island Celebrations next year.
31st October - Mayor of Poole Goes Back to School
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, toured Poole High School, including particularly the Special Needs facilities for pupils with learning difficulties.
Headmaster Mr John Short welcomed the Mayor to the school, which has been transformed over the last 15 years under his leadership. Cllr Mrs Judy Butt was guided around the school by recently retired teacher Mr Keith Parsons (see Mayor's Diary 25th May 2006), and took great delight in seeing all the recently added improvements, also discussing the planned redevelopment of the ageing canteen block. The tour was also attended by School Improvement Partner Mrs Elizabeth Cooper and local councillors.
Following the tour, certificates were presented to two outstanding students for their magnificent achievement in attaining 9 A* GCSE Grades each.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "All the youngsters are terrific with so much energy and enthusiasm and an obvious pride in their school. The sixth form facilities are superb and a far cry from my sixth form days when we were blessed with a horse hair sofa, sadly suffering from many years of stuffing loss and neglect, a single plug point loaded with adaptor blocks with the ubiquitous toaster, kettle and three ring fire attached! I was particularly impressed with the two young ladies who shared the well deserved Scott Blair Award. Poole High is a super school with excellent leadership, teaching staff, governing body, parental support and ancillary staff but most of all the children who attend, most definitely their biggest asset."
The beautiful frontage of the original Poole High School.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with retired teacher Mr Keith Parsons, looks at the profiles of some of the students.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with retired teachers Mr Keith Parsons and Mr Langford, explore the Millenium Sundial at Poole High School
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Learning Support Manager Mr Keats, inspects the ICT facilities for Special Needs students at Poole High School.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, meets the Special Needs team at Poole High School.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with two students who received the Scott Blair Award for achieving 9 A* GCSE Grades at Poole High School.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with some of the governors of Poole High School.
30th October - Mayor of Poole Plans Spring Fair
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, called the inaugural meeting of a working group to plan the Mayor's Charity Spring Fair to be held on Bank Holiday Sunday May 6th and Monday 7th 2007 from 10am until 4pm.
The meeting was attended by a number of leading figures from local businesses and voluntary groups, all with a proven track record in organizing similar events. The atmosphere was strongly positive, with many suggestions and an overall vision building very quickly to create what will be a major event for local residents, potential participants and the Mayor's charities.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "This already looks exciting - everybody began from the stance that they want to make this a landmark event. With the terrific success of Poole Park Fest still very much in mind the Spring Fair looks set to be yet another Poole extravaganza with a myriad of different and innovative activities, stalls and attractions. I can't say too much at this early planning stage but watch this space as the time draws nearer!"
30th October - Mayor of Poole Takes Pride in Poole Places
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, presented shields and certificates for the 2006 Poole Pride of Place Awards at the Peacock Art Gallery.
The Sustainability Award went to the Seldown Eco-village development, designed by SMC Charter Architects of Bournemouth, for the Western Challenge Housing Association and the Borough of Poole, while the Pride of Place Award went to the ‘Thunderbirds' house in Branksome Park by Seven Developments. Other leading awards went to the communal garden at Canford Sheltered Housing Scheme on Canford Heath, the Cygnet Play Area in Poole Park, and another residential property in Branksome Park.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The Seldown project demonstrates that good design and good sustainable development isn't just for the rich and famous - it can be for everybody. By contrast, the Thunderbird property encourages young people to aspire to buy something similarly special for themselves. Grateful thanks are due to John Biggs and his team at Borough of Poole for organizing the annual event now in its 26th year of awards."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with award winners and Council officers at the 2006 Poole Pride of Place Awards at the Peacock Art Gallery.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Council officer Mr John Biggs at the 2006 Poole Pride of Place Awards at the Peacock Art Gallery.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with award winner Mr Terry Carney of the Canford Sheltered Housing Scheme on Canford Heath at the 2006 Poole Pride of Place Awards at the Peacock Art Gallery.
The ‘Thunderbirds' house which won ‘Pride of Place' at the 2006 Poole Pride of Place Awards at the Peacock Art Gallery.
The Seldown Eco-Village, which won the Sustainability award, at the 2006 Poole Pride of Place Awards at the Peacock Art Gallery.
29th October - Mayor of Poole Sells Poppies
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, launched this year's Poppy Appeal bright and early in the morning at the Dolphin Shopping Centre.
Sporting a poppy from her own donation and carrying a tray of poppies and a collecting box, the Mayor encouraged many local residents to contribute when they were intrigued by the sight of the Mayoral chains being worn in public. Cllr Mrs Judy Butt took great delight in meeting and chatting with many of the Sunday morning shoppers who passed by.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Having arrived home from my lovely short break away at 2.30am it was a huge effort to be ready for the launch that same morning. However when I think of the sacrifice that the fallen of so many wars have made for us, it was very least that David and I could do. Every year it becomes more and more difficult for the Poppy Appeal organizers to find volunteers, so if you could spare an hour or so this week please contact Cmdr Dennis Moran and offer your services they will be greatly appreciated."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accepting a donation from a passing shopper while collecting for the Poppy Appeal at the Dolphin Shopping Centre.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accepting a donation from a passing shopper while collecting for the Poppy Appeal at the Dolphin Shopping Centre.
21st-28th October - Mayor of Poole Takes a Break
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt and family, has spent a few days soaking up some sun, sea, champagne (well a passable Cava really!) and good food at a lovely resort in Gran Canaria.
The holiday started badly; having been forced to travel via Madrid due to the number of people going away for half-term, the Mayor and her family were stranded for seven and a half hours in an extremely uncomfortable airport due to the airline overbooking the connecting flight, finally arriving at their resort at about 5am on Sunday morning!
However, the stresses of the journey were quickly dissipated when the Mayor walked on to the balcony and saw the delightful views across the bay to the cute little fishing port of Arguineguin in the moonlight, the lights of the town and port glowing like little fireflies. After a few hours sleep, everybody was fully recovered and raring to go, especially the Mayor!
The next few days were spent relaxing in the sun (about 29°C most days); joining in activities in the resort (the Mayor won prizes at archery, air rifle shooting (two firsts and beating the chaps in the second round, the best bloke amazingly being a Pest Control Officer from Canterbury who shoots vermin for a living!!) and Bingo, (no skill required so the Mayor won 6 prizes all told!) but declined to try for beanbag champion, just in case she won, oh the embarrassment!); swimming in the many pools and from the beautiful beach; shopping and dining out (a real treat for the family as being the Mayor of Poole it isn't easy to find time to cook a hot meal every evening) at the nearby town of Puerto Rico which was buzzing with night life; enjoying the unusual and rather unique entertainment provided at the resort; driving the hair-raising cliffside roads in the centre of the island up to the breathtaking mountains and their views; and absorbing uncounted bottles of champagne, (see note above) sangria, wine and beer.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The airline's ‘Customer Services ' (an oxymoron by description and default!) desperately need some lessons from our own Customer Services at BoP; apart from one lady who was worth her weight in gold, the service was ABSOLUTELY awful! An apology however vague in any context was so far removed from any customer service officers' lips that the silence was deafening!!
However after a shaky start we had a wonderful holiday, and I am now back at work with my batteries fully recharged and as enthusiastic as ever to take on another six and a half months of my ever growing Mayoral duties."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her daughter Georgina, celebrate their (eventual) safe arrival at the nearby tapas restaurant.
One of the resort's entertainment - a fab limbo dancer which is a favourite of the Mayor.
Cause for concern - was this a package tour of fellow councillors arriving?
The Mayor and her family relaxing on the apartment's balcony, showing the beautiful view in the background.
The Mayor and her family ready to hit the night spots in the nearby town of Puerto Rico.
One of the more unique entertainments - a bit of a drag really!
High up in the mountains in the centre of the island.
19th October - Mayor of Poole at Poole Yacht Club
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended a cocktail party as a guest of Commodore Colin Rainbird of Poole Yacht Club, arriving in a torrential rain storm, in fact the guests joked with her on her arrival, had she been driven there or had she sailed in by boat! She was accompanied by her husband and Consort David, the Sheriff and his Lady and BoP Chief Executive John McBride and his wife. Her host for the evening was Mr Larry Rumbold, Poole Yacht Club's events manager (see Mayor's Diary 9th October).
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "It was a very lively evening, with a young lady playing a selection of popular music on a lovely old grand piano. I met Lucy Magregor who at only 16 years old will be part of the 2008 Olympic team in her sailing class at Qingdao in China. I also met Shirley Robinson already Olympic Champion winning a gold medal in the 2004 games. There is so much young talent in Poole and I am very much looking forward to the 2012 Olympics when we will be seeing much more of these gifted young people, probably winning lots of medals and bringing great honour to our town."
19th October - Mayor of Poole Awards Children's Prizes
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, took great delight in presenting prizes at Canford Heath First School to the two joint winners of a competition to design a poster to warn people to keep to the new 20 MPH speed limit that Poole Council's Transportation Services had recently effected outside the school. This was as a direct result of people speeding past the school and putting the very youngest of our school children in danger of being injured.
The assembly hall was packed to the gunnels with 6 and 7 year olds who had all entered the competition.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "It's hard to tell such expectant little faces that there are only two winners but I was very mindful to tell them that we had a very hard choice when choosing the winners because they were all so very good. I asked the two winners to hold up their posters and show their class mates and to tell us all the thinking behind the design. They were remarkably forthcoming in their replies and happily shared their reasons with their classmates and me. The posters are proudly displayed outside the school and the children are certainly not reticent to tell anyone they see speeding to slow down, the children have ensured that the parents and other users of the road have really got the message. The competition organized by Nick Ellis from BoP and the teachers from Canford Heath First School has really empowered the children to effect an outcome that has made a change for the better."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the two joint winners of the competition at Canford Heath First School.
19th October - Mayor of Poole In the Swim
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended the Dolphin Swimming Poole to award prizes to the 4 lucky winners of a prize draw organised by Sports and Leisure Management at August's Poole Park Fest organised by the Friends of Poole Park.
The top prize was a years free swimming tuition worth £225 and runner up prizes of one term of free swimming lessons, one months free swimming for a family of four and six months health and fitness membership worth £200.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Poole Park Fest is a terrific annual event with so much to see and do, as the activities organized at the festival by SLM clearly demonstrated. Keeping fit is so important, be it regular gym exercise or a gentle stroll with your dog, this year as your Mayor of Poole I have cycled in the Tour de France with British team from BoP, run the 5k Tesco Race for Life, three legged with my 14 year old daughter, kayaked at Ham Common, led the Dragon Dance for over a half mile course in the Poole Park Fest, abseiled 150 foot down the Tower Park Water Tower and taken part in countless sponsored walks ranging from 5 to 12 miles, this has enabled me to be fit and active and carry out by duties as Mayor proving that exercise is fun!!! Thank you to all those who took part in the prize draw competition. I know that this will encourage more people to live healthier and active lives, enjoy!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Poole Council portfolioholder for Environment Cllr Don Collier, and the prizewinners at the Dolphin Swimming Pool.
19th October - Mayor of Poole Puts Down Roots
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, took great delight in planting a tree at Holton Lee for ROK Group, using the Mayoral Regalia Silver Spade
Holton Lee is a nature site close to Poole Harbour in East Dorset, with three hundred and fifty acres of unspoilt woodland and heathland. It provides accommodation for people with disabilities and the opportunity for enjoyment of the environment with nature trails and a bird hide. The ROK Tree Planting project, managed by 2004 award winner for Garden Design, Diana Guy, forms part of the ROK Staff Community Challenge and is creating a decked seating area in a formal garden. All of the hard landscaping is being provided by ROK at a cost of about £19,000, planting is being provided by Stewarts Nurseries, and all of the work is being done by students from Bournemouth & Poole College with disabilities or learning difficulties. The Mayor is to be invited back to the completed site to open it, hopefully before the winter sets in!
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "My 5 inch heels were not exactly conducive to planting the lovely birch tree but it was great fun. The hole had already been dug but I was allowed to infill it and pad down the earth and really plant it, I hope it has a long and happy life, I shall certainly be visiting the site to check out on its growth over the years to come. The ROK challenge team are a super group who have not only given thousands of pounds themselves but also gained sponsorship from local businesses amounting to some £12000 to complete the project. If you haven't been there do go along you won't be disappointed, it's a haven of verdant green and open countryside, the autumn colours are stunning just now with every tree seemingly ablaze with light as their winter foliage develops."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, planting a tree at Holton Lee for ROK Associates, using a special silver spade from the Mayoral regalia.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with helpers and ROK managers at Holton Lee.
18th October - Mayor of Poole Meets Mrs Thatcher
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt attended a showing of ‘Thatcher - The Musical' at the Lighthouse.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "What a blast it was. You just have to go and see it. The cast is all female save for one young man who plays a woman and the electric organ throughout the performance! Intrigued you will be, my toes tapped, my legs swung, my fingers clicked and parts of my body that I had no idea music could reach were well and truly accessed by the fabulous harmony singing and dancing. The dialogue between the characters was crisp and extremely witty, Maggie's life from cradle to retirement being expertly documented but with just a twist of irony and a huge pinch of humour, but as she was ‘The Iron Lady' one would expect a little irony. I was delighted to be invited back stage after the performance to sit in Maggie's handbag and pose with the whole cast all in full costume for a photo. If you want to know how I could sit in Maggie's handbag you will just have to go and see the show, it's well worth seeing!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended a showing of ‘Thatcher - The Musical' at the Lighthouse.
18th October - Mayor of Poole Pays Her Respects to Past Under-Sheriff Mr John Wallis
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, was pleased to attend the funeral of Mr John Wallis, who served as Under-Sheriff of Poole from 1974 to about 1986.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "John was born in 1916, and spent a long and happy life working in the legal profession, moving to Poole in 1948. He is survived by his three children but sadly his wife Astrid passed away some years ago. The Chapel was packed with family, friends and colleagues all to say their last goodbyes.
John's only son Alan gave a humorous account of John's life which was certainly a busy one, he never sat if he could stand, nor stood if he could walk, a lovely man with a wry sense of humor and purpose especially in his service to the community as Under Sheriff of Poole for over 12 years. I was honoured to be asked to attend his funeral."
18th October - Mayor of Poole Thanks Long Distance Riders
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, was delighted to entertain Poole Council's Bicycle Users Group in her Parlour, after they had raised about £1000 in support of her chosen charities, resulting from their sponsored ‘Le Cycle' ride in France in July.
The Mayor herself joined the BUG team on the arduous ride, coinciding with the ‘Tour de France', from Beauvais near Paris to Caen in Normandy, then on to the ferry port at Ouistreham, riding a total of 82 kilometers. (see Mayor's Diary for 6th July).
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The last time I saw the team they were all hyperventilating, clad in very tight Lycra, leaking from every pore and complaining about the sharpness of their saddles, which was a far cry from the well groomed, smooth skinned, agile individuals that joined me for a little celebration in the Parlour. The trip was one of a lifetime, I definitely see myself, grandchildren at my knee boring the bejeebers out of any of them who are still awake as to my 2006 French Cycling exploits!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with members of Poole Council's Bicycle Users Group in her Parlour.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, ‘on her bike' during the ‘Le Cycle' ride in France in July.
17th October - Mayor of Poole Inspects Lilliputian Sea Scouts
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended a Royal Navy inspection of Lilliput Sea Scouts at TS Gulliver, and was delighted to inspect the young cadets herself and exchange a few words with each and every one of them - all 87!
Together with the unit's commanding officer Lt Cmdr David Griffiths, the Mayor was impressed by the enthusiasm and abilities of the scouts, and with assistant scoutmaster David Kittcatt as a guide, she thoroughly enjoyed touring the various activities and training sessions, getting involved with some of them and losing to the commanding officer in a rope-throwing contest!
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I got a whole education in a few minutes by talking to rows of sea scouts. In the activities, they were unimpressed by my efforts at tying a dodgy granny knot; the rope made of woven toilet paper was probably not conducive to use in water; they were all into sheepshanks and slip knots and left me well behind! I later had great fun in upstaging the Lt Commander by pulling rank as Admiral of the Port. It was a really fun evening with a lovely buffet prepared by the young cadets and also eaten by them so you had to be fairly quick! I am delighted that in this unit alone 4 members of Poole Council staff are weekly Scout leaders/tutors giving up several nights a week at TS Gulliver, but I am grateful to all the wonderful local volunteer staff who work so hard and so constantly to support and empower our youngsters to be fit and active."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, listens carefully to comments by one of the young sea scouts during the inspection at TS Gulliver.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with TS Gulliver commanding officer Lt Cmdr David Griffiths during the inspection.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, shows off her knot-tying skills during the inspection at TS Gulliver.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with volunteers David Kitcatt, Stuart Heathman and Ian Bland, all BoP staff, during the inspection at TS Gulliver.
17th October - Mayor of Poole Meets Princess Royal
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, was presented to Princess Anne during a visit to Poole Probation Office, the Mayor forming part of the welcoming party, headed by the High Sheriff of Dorset Mr David Woodhouse, followed by the Mayor and her husband and Consort David, the Sheriff and his Lady and our Chief Executive Mr John McBride.
The Princess Royal and her party, which consisted of members of the Butler Charitable Trust, who support offenders in an educative/sports programme to find work and move away from past behaviours, were taken on a guided tour of the new building and they also received a very informative presentation on the vital work of our Probation Service. Amongst the Princess' party was the famous Sir Trevor Brooking, whom the Mayor spoke to at length, as her daughter Georgie is a keen footballer. The Mayor's Party led by the High Sheriff were taken on an alternative tour and presentation and were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the modern Probation Service which has positively changed over the last decade.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said, "It was a privilege to meet the Princess. She was dressed in a two piece knee length racing green light wool suit, with a cream cravat and welding a huge umbrella to keep off the rain.
The welcoming party however had no such protection and were just a little bit damp when retiring to take the tour of the building but happily so!"
16th October - Mayor of Poole Reaches Age of Independence
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended a fundraising luncheon organized by the Independent Age Charity at the home of Mrs Elaine Lawford in Poole. The Patron of Independent Age is HRH Princess Alexandra.
Independent Age helps older people on low incomes to live with dignity and peace of mind by providing a regular extra income; grants for emergencies; equipment to aid independence; the support and friendship of volunteers and nursing and residential care homes.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I met Elaine at the recent Poole Park Fest where she is a Friend of Poole Park and she took time to tell me about this little known charity serving our elderly, who need just that little bit of extra support in order for them to maintain their independence and dignity. The luncheon was superb and as most of you will know I don't really do food but even I was tempted by the cornucopia of edible comestibles that were displayed for consumption!"
Ladies What Lunch - The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with members of the Independent Age Charity at the home of Mrs Elaine Lawford in Poole.
16th October - Mayor of Poole Meets New Town Centre Manager
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, was delighted to meet the newly appointed Town Centre Manager Mrs Gaynor Forryan in the Mayor's Parlour. The meeting resulted in a frank exchange of views, and outlined many ways in which the Town Centre and the Mayoralty could work together in the future to the benefit of both, and the town as a whole.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Gaynor has not been in the town very long but is already making huge strides for the advantage and betterment of Poole. She has some superb ideas and I very much look forward to working with her during and beyond my Mayoral Office!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with newly appointed Town Centre Manager Mrs Gaynor Forryan in the Mayor's Parlour.
15th October - Mayor of Poole Meets Rising Stars
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, and joined by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth and Poole MP Mr Robert Syms, attended a concert organized to celebrate the start of singer Diana Chrisman's professional career.
Accompanied by guest singer Marcus Marriott and singing group Vision, Diana gave superb renderings of songs from modern shows she had performed in, including Witches of Eastwick, The Pyjama Game, Oklahoma, and Funny Girl.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said, "Diana and her support group filled the Church atrium with visible sound!!! It was breathtaking, the harmonies even when purposefully discordant worked brilliantly in the huge body of the church. Diana is certainly a talent of the future and I am sure we will see her popping up within the performing arts circuits imminently. I made certain to get her to sign a CD for me - as she will definitely be famous one day and very soon!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt and her Consort Mr David Butt, with Diana Chrisman and Poole MP Mr Robert Syms, at the concert.
15th October - Mayor of Poole Presents Awards to Disabled Gymnasts
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, took great delight in presenting competition awards at the National Gymnastic Competition for people with Additional Needs at Rossmore Leisure Centre.
All of the competitors suffer from some form of learning difficulty and/or physical disability and many had travelled considerable distances to participate, which made the ceremony all the more special.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "It was quite amazing to see the agility and poise of the athletes, who all thoroughly enjoyed entering into a competitive arena. It was so rewarding to see the enormous grins of satisfaction when I presented the medals and trophies, the delight was palpable so real you could almost touch it!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with proud award winners, including a double award winner, at the Disabled Gymnastics Competition.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the award winners at the Disabled Gymnastics Competition.
15th October - Mayor of Poole Celebrates the Feast of Stephen
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, the Sheriff, the Sheriff's Lady and Poole and MDNP MPs took part in a service organized by Canon Jane Lloyd of Poole Hospital Chaplaincy Service at the Mayor's Parish Church, St Mary's RC Church in Wimborne Road where Cllr Judy Butt is a Eucharistic Minister and a very active member of the parish. The special service also marked St Stephens Day, being the patron saint of medicine.
Introduced by the Mayor's Parish Priest Father Mark Skelton, a moving address was given by Rt Rev Dr David Standcliffe, Bishop of Salisbury, about the difficulties of trying to create perfection in an imperfect world. The Mayor then gave a reading from St Luke, describing how Jesus attracted criticism by healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath, even though his critics were themselves guilty of the very crime of which they were accusing him.
Following the service, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt took the opportunity to meet members of the congregation and invited guests over coffee.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The service was very poignant and appealed equally to all faiths. The Poole Hospital Chaplaincy Service is crucial in its provision of spiritual and emotional support, especially when people are at their most vulnerable at times of illness and bereavement. A few years ago I spent over a month in hospital and was visited regularly by the visiting Chaplains, this helped me considerably in my recovery."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, Poole Hospital Chief Executive Sue Sutherland, Poole MP Robert Syms, the Sheriff and Sheriff's Lady.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, in conversation with Rt Rev Dr David Standcliffe, Bishop of Salisbury, and her two sons.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Poole Hospital staff Emeka Okpala, ENT Registrar, and Gisella Smith, Discharge Support Secretary, who read during the service.
15th October - Mayor of Poole Lunches with Soroptimists
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended a luncheon organized by the charity Soroptimists International Poole.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, gave comical speech on the lighter side of being a girlie, in her toast to the SI Poole, which was very well rec'd.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was asked if I was in favour of women being able to hold positions of authority. I said ‘I'm the Mayor of Poole and Admiral of the Port, a local Councillor, member of the Police Authority and a trained legal executive - what do you think? However I added as a caveat, that gender is unimportant what matters is doing your best and for the right reasons. The Soroptimists are a superb body who bring the plight of women who are being denigrated and intimidated to the attention of those who can make the changes to stop the abuse, be it a local Council, National Government or the United Nations, it happens world wide and will ever be thus without the sensitive and steadfast intervention of groups such as the Soroptimists"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Miss Pauline Monk, President, and other members of of Soroptimists International Poole.
14th October - Mayor of Poole Lunches with French Twins
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended a luncheon at the Bankes Arms, Corfe Castle organized by the Poole Twinning Association to meet guests from Poole's twin town of Cherbourg, including the Deputy Mayor of Cherbourg Jean Paul Mageles.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "We had an excellent lunch, the restaurant pulling out all the stops, our French guests were most complimentary about the food, a real achievement when France is so well known for is gastronomic sensitivities. We chatted over many issues and how we can further enhance our already very strong relationship. Unfortunately due to another engagement we were unable to join the group for a cream tea on the Swanage Railway and had to satisfy ourselves waving large white hankies and patting our eyes as our chums left in a huge cloud of steam!"
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Gina Wilcox, lead committee member of the Poole Twinning Association.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, at Corfe Castle station on the Swanage railway with guests from Cherbourg including M Jean Claude mageles and members of the Poole Twinning Association.
14th October - Mayor of Poole Opens Insurance Office
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, opened the new Equity Insurance office in Parkstone Road, Poole, by cutting a ribbon while prospective customers looked on, already queuing to do business in the new office. The Mayor, herself a qualified financial adviser, took a keen interest in the workings of the new office and the technology which made it possible.
Already an established Poole business for many years with backing from such giants of the industry as Eagle Star, Equity are now piloting a plan to open sales offices throughout the Borough and beyond, specializing in home and motor insurance.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Insurance is something that we all need but its image isn't exactly exciting. I put this question to Shahin Makanvand Area Sales Manager and he agreed but quite rightly said that insurance is one of life's essentials."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, cuts a ribbon to open the new Equity Insurance office in Parkstone Road, Poole.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Area Sales Manager Shahin Makanvand, finds her own name in the database at the new Equity Insurance office in Parkstone Road, Poole.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Area Sales Manager Shahin Makanvand and members of staff at the new Equity Insurance office in Parkstone Road, Poole.
)12th October - Mayor of Poole Reminisces at Poole Grammar School
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended the annual prizegiving at Poole Grammar School. The Mayor, who was third to speak and therefore by default the comedy turn, complimented the students on their achievements which were great and varied and then took them for a whistle stop tour of her school days, which caused much merriment amongst the assembled gathering.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I couldn't resist telling them of my year 8 Geography report, when my exasperated teacher had written
‘Judy's one and only achievement in Geography is finding her way to the classroom'. I also told them of the time I was at my Convent Boarding School and all my teachers were nuns. We had a rabbit called Sister Margaret and she was a very happy bunny, however someone who will remain nameless (but guess who) introduced another bunny on the last day of summer school term called Father George! On returning to school in the September we were all gathered for our first school assembly and were informed that due to circumstances beyond the control of the Head Mistress, Sister Margaret was now the proud mother of 17 babies, which as you can imagine caused a titter or two within the assembly hall. That crime did go unpunished but the Rev Mother always suspected skullduggery on that fateful summer night! It was a great pleasure to chat to parents and young gents alike, they were all so palpably proud of their achievements and rightly so with 8 young men going to Oxbridge this year alone."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt and her Consort Mr David Butt, with Poole Grammar School Headmaster Mr Ian Carter and Deputy Head Boys Abhiney Jain and Richard Armstrong at the annual prizegiving.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, talking with a teacher at Poole Grammar School annual prizegiving.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, enjoying a joke with guests at Poole Grammar School annual prizegiving.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, receiving flowers from a Deputy Head Boy at Poole Grammar School annual prizegiving.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with one of the prizewinners at Poole Grammar School annual prizegiving.
11th October - Mayor of Poole Visits East Dorset
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended the East Dorset Civic Day starting in Furzehill Wimborne; another gathering of the ‘Chain Gang' with many Mayors/Chairman of the County meeting together to explore East Dorset and all it has to offer. The day started with coffee and an introduction by Cllr Alex Clarke, Chairman of East Dorset District Council.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "We had an action packed day starting with a tour of the lovely stately home Edmondsham House near Cranborne. The story goes that Lewis Tregonwell (a descendant of Sir John Tregonwell a 16th century farmer who was born in Falmouth and bought the house during the reign of Henry VIII), founded Bournemouth in 1812 when he built a family ‘ holiday home' on the sea front, that home being the now Exeter Hotel!!
After tea and biscuits when left by coach to visit the Ancient Technology Centre near Cranborne, where we were all taken kicking and screaming back into the time of Iron Age Man, when everything was done manually, food was terrible (although the Mead was passable) and personal hygiene was a total unknown! However it was a fascinating insight into how much could be achieved and how we all lived so many years ago. It is an invaluable medium for providing our children with a real hands-on experience of their past history.
We sat down for a delicious light lunch at Drusilla's Inn, Horton and then were taken to the Military Defence Fuel Depot nearby. Amazingly this is a SSSI site with more flora and fauna than anyone could throw a stick at, the heathland than sits on it's perimeters is heaving with life and has hundreds of protected species under its keeping. The Depot and the Officers are extremely proud of the high standard of husbandry that they provide for such a diverse and unique site. A final cup of tea in the Officers Mess, with more uniforms than I could really cope with! Then back home, a thoroughly enjoyable enlightening day."
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Cllr Alex Clarke, Chairman of East Dorset District Council.
Science meets religion - at Edmondsham House near Cranborne, a 1692 bible including a map of the then known world.
10th October - Mayor of Poole Visits Mission Control
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, recently visited the Wessex Water Control Room in Bath by kind invitation from the South West Regional Manager Mr Peter Coombes and his wife Sarah, Bath Control Room Manager, to spend a day in Bath visiting the control room, the Roman Baths and a special introduction to The Right Worshipful Mayor of Bath Cllr Mrs Carol Paradise.
Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The day started with a lunchtime visit to the brand new administration block built on a steep hill in the shape of a ‘W'. The building is amazing with every conceivable environmentally friendly feature you could imagine and totally self-supporting in energy and water. There is even a water clock, I couldn't read it as it was based on a vortex system but it looked aesthetically pleasing! We then were allowed into the control room which is a highly secure area for obvious reasons, it was very ‘mission control' in its approach with huge electronic maps on the walls tracking water, leaks, pipe breakages etc, all very impressive. Each member of the team in the control room managed 4 computer screens and I worry with just the one! I felt very assured that everything was being done to bring us safe clean water as efficiently and effectively as possible. Recently they had a visitor from India and when he saw how quickly clean water moves from reservoir to tap he almost burst into tears, I suppose this is something that we can really empathise with, we forget sometimes how lucky we are to have instant clean water at the turn of a tap, when other countries see this as an