Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole 2006/07

The Mayor of Poole, accompanied by her husband and Consort, Mr David Butt, left hospital after having her broken leg repaired, in a wheelchair kindly supplied by the local Red Cross.

During the Mayor's sojourn in Poole Hospital, it gradually emerged that her leg had been broken in no less than six places, the damage aggravated by her long-term affliction of fibromyalgia, which among other effects causes the bones to be weakened. In a painful four hour operation, rods were inserted in her tibia and fibia and both bones pinned, plus a further 'Frankensteinian' style pin from one ankle bone straight through to the other. A temporary cast has been put on her leg but this will be replaced as the healing process takes place. The Mayor now faces at least four weeks in a wheelchair and up to six weeks before she can begin to bear any weight on the multi-fractured  leg again.  However, ever resourceful she plans to use her unusual situation to explore how those who are permanently wheelchair-bound deal with day to day mobility and use her findings to promote and inform the Council on disabled access in and around Poole.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Sympathy vote wise the bruising and swelling of my leg is very impressive but unfortunately it is as painful as it looks.  Trust me to well and truly 'break my leg' however look out for me speeding (in wheelchair terms) down a corridor near you as I am back to work on Monday 26^th Feb, I may technically be a little slower but my drive and enthusiasm is still 110% With regard to difficulties experienced by wheelchair users I intend to test compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to the limit!"

The Mayor of Poole, in her bed at Poole Hospital the evening before leaving to go home

The Mayor of Poole's husband and Consort, Mr David Butt, accompanied by his family and members of the Mayor's Charity Committee, presided over the Mayor's Charity day at the synthetic ice rink in Falkland Square in Poole. Arranged by Poole's Town Centre Management, the rink was sponsored by NPower and operated by Cousins Entertainment, a company owned by the world-famous Robin Cousins.

With the Mayor unfortunately detained in Poole Hospital for a further day, the very first appearance of the morning was the young girl who had been skating with the Mayor at the time of her accident, and who has enthusiastically visited every morning during the week. A cold day, sporadically warmed by winter sunshine, meant that the High Street was uncharacteristically quiet for a Saturday, but the rink still echoed to the laughter of skaters all through the day, attracting some 120 customers and raising £370 for the Mayor's Charities.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Another great day for my three Charities, with Cllr Ray Smith's Dog's Dinner raising £1100, the Valentines Dinner raising £725 capped off by the Ice Skating collection of £370 meant a weighty £2195 raised in just 7 days, a huge boost for the overall balance."

The Mayor of Poole's Charity Dogs' Dinner, held at Poole Stadium, proved to be a smash success despite the unfortunate absence of the Mayor.

Organised for the Mayor's Charities by Cllr Ray Smith, the event was supported by 80 councillors, visiting civic dignitaries and personal friends and supporters, who enjoyed a superb dinner and the excitement of 19 races, winning and losing in great style. Thanks to the amazing generosity of the guests, the event raised a princely £1100 for the Mayor's Charities.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Wow! When Cllr Ray Smith, past Mayor of Poole 2003/04 and undisputed champion fund-raiser for the Mayor's Charities, organises an event he has no understanding of the word 'average', this result is stunning and I know how much hard work it takes to put on an event such as this let alone make such a stonking amount of money.  I cannot thank Ray enough for his amazing support and kindness, he's a man with a big heart and a big smile and so many 100's of 1000's of people have benefitted from his generosity in his fund raising successes over countless years, a huge thank you to you Ray for all that you do for so many who cannot do it for themselves."

The Mayor of Poole's Consort, Mr David Butt, accompanied by the Mayor's family, attending the ‘Woking with Andy Chu' show at the Lighthouse. The party was escorted for the evening by Mr Alex Pun, a colleague of Andy.

The evening began with the amazing spectacle of the Chinese Lion Dance, a traditional dance which was enacted for the Chinese New Year (see Mayor's Diary for 12^th February). At that time the Mayor was honoured to bring a new lion to life, and on this occasion ‘her' lion was on stage among six who participated in the dance.

With the dance completed, Andy Chu took the stage to demonstrate some of his Asian cooking, not just confined to Chinese but including dishes from other Far Eastern countries, emphasising the simplicity of the recipes to make them easy to remember and reproduce at home. In the second half of the show, Andy was joined on stage by Charlie Butt, the Mayor's son, who at only 16 is a talented cook in his own right. They went on to demonstrate stir-fried dishes, filling the auditorium with the tantalising aromas of cooking and making the whole audience jealous of Charlie, who was the only person allowed to taste them.

The cooking finished to tumultuous applause, and the audience was treated to an atmospheric torch-lit version of the Long Dragon Dance, in which the Mayor had participated at last year's Poole Park Fest (see Mayor's Diary for 28^th August 2006). This finale ended the show, leaving the stunned audience to head for home to try out the recipes for themselves.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was absolutely delighted that Andy asked David and the family to attend as his personal guests in my absence and for Charlie to act as Sous chef for the evening's presentations and, people are so kind, it was a great fun evening and it allowed my family to forget the worry of me in hospital with all my broken bones for a few hours!"

Six Chinese Lions on stage, including the Mayor's adopted lion, on stage at the Lighthouse

Cooking begins, and the Mayor's son, Charlie Butt, shows Andy Chu how to chop vegetables on stage at the Lighthouse

Andy Chu looks worried as the Mayor's son, Charlie Butt, gets a little carried away with the seasoning

Andy Chu carefully preparing a sauce for one of dishes

Andy cracks jokes about Chinese rice, while Charlie chops spring onions

Cooking over, and Andy and Charlie answer questions from the audience

The Mayor of Poole's Consort, Mr David Butt, accompanied by the Mayor's family, was the guest of honour at the Mayor's Charity Valentine Dinner, a special event organised by the Mayor to give her rather overworked committee a rest.

With the Mayor in Poole Hospital with a broken leg, David explained the Mayor's absence to the 80 shocked guests, who included not only councillors but also many of the community leaders whom the Mayor has met and become friends with during her term of office. An exotic Valentine meal was served by the first class catering team from the Peacock Tearooms, consisting of fruity fan of melon with champagne sorbet, a superbly prepared poached salmon with lemon and dill sauce and fruit mousse served with heart-shaped shortcake biscuits was punctuated between courses by Valentine questions and spot prizes awarded by Charity Committee Chairman Mrs Jackie Maynard, whose charms added to those of the Mayor managed to persuade 6 local florists to part with over 60 beautiful single red roses for all the gentlemen (for a small fee) to present to their beloved partners after dinner, florists all over the community now hide on sight of both ladies!!! Over coffee and after dinner mints, Jackie drew the raffle and proposed a toast to the guests. This was responded to by Charity Committee Vice-chairman Cllr David Gillard, who also acted as MC and quizmaster for the evening, applying his well-known wit to keep the guests rolling in the aisles with laughter.

With the meal over, most of the diners remained to circulate and enjoy meeting others at the event, or in some cases to enjoy an intimate dance to the romantic music playing in the foyer. The diners reluctantly started drifting away at 11 pm, the last group only departing when the caretaker removed their table from in front of them!

An outstanding success which was enjoyed by all, the evening raised an amazing £725 for the Mayor's Charities, bringing the total fund close to  £30,000.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was delighted that everyone enjoyed their evening but was really frustrated that I could not join them.  My committee really are a hands on team and now well versed at staging eleventh hour and 59 second events!"

Friends and supporters of the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, arriving at Upton House for the Mayor's Charity Valentine Dinner

The Mayor's Consort, Mr David Butt, presents thank you gifts to Catering Manager Mrs Tina Hayter and her staff

Quiz Time, and MC Cllr David Gillard leads the questions and answers

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt and her family, opened the temporary ice rink in Poole town centre.

Sponsored by NPower and operated by Cousins Entertainment, a company owned by the world-famous Robin Cousins, the ice rink was located in Falkland Square for half-term week as part of the Town Centre's Frost Fair, surrounded by market stalls and other attractions.

Escorted by Town Centre Manager Mrs Gaynor Forryan, the Mayor donned a pair of ice skates and ventured on to the synthetic ice to try out the rink, joined by her own children Charlie and Georgina and a couple of youngsters who were enthusiastic enough to pre-empt the official opening. The Mayor made a humorous speech in which she paid tribute to the Town Centre for providing the rink and market, and to the budding star ice skaters who would benefit. She then continued to enjoy the attraction for some time, however after safely skating for about 30 minutes she stopped to stand stock still with her husband David and her Mayor's Charity bucket to pose on the ice for a photograph when for no obvious reason she simply lost her balance and crashed to the floor, breaking her leg in the process.

The incident, which has been covered in more detail elsewhere, caused the rink to be closed for a short time while an ambulance was called and the Mayor was taken to Poole Hospital. The Mayor nonetheless remains very positive about the experience and wishes to encourage youngsters to enjoy the facility.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "My first thought was how long would I be out of action this time, especially after my last bout of bad luck just before Christmas last year when I had to spend 8 days languishing in hospital.  However I knew that my fab Mayoral team would galvanise into action and ensure that it was business as usual, my long suffering saintly secretary Jo reorganising my diary, the Deputy Mayor instantly stepping into engagements that could not be rearranged and last but by no means least, my Charity Committee having to facilitate my Valentine's Dinner/Dance quiz evening without the hostess...me, however read on to see how it all went!'

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt and her husband Mr David Butt, with Town Centre Manager Mrs Gaynor Forryan, at Falkland Square

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, gets her balance on the synthetic ice rink

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Town Centre Manager Mrs Gaynor Forryan, having fun on the ice

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, takes a tumble - no harm done

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, skating with a young visitor on the ice rink, the first to arrive

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her daughter Georgina Butt and two early young skaters

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, and her husband David Butt pose for a Mayor's Charity photo just a few moments before her accident

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended the Salvation Army's ‘Youth Makes Music' concert at the Lighthouse.

The concert marked the completion of a week of work of dance, drama, bible study, music and prayers of over 170  young salvationists on special 'retreat' who have met in Poole every February for the last 10 years, the group celebrating their tenth birthday this year, from all over the country. 

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was delighted to be asked on stage to address the 800 strong audience.  It was such a lovely evening filled with amazing performances of music. song and dance that praising the youngsters for their achievements and their tutors for their skills was a pleasure and I had no difficultly in thinking of a few appropriate jokes and anecdotes, finishing with a resounding agreement to my request for an encore, which was readily agreed and beautifully played and sung.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Salvation Army officers at the Lighthouse

The young Salvation Army singers on  stage at the Lighthouse

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met Superintendent Nick Hazleton, Divisonal Commander of Poole Police, in her Parlour.

The Mayor outlined her plans for the forthcoming Spring Fair on 6^th and 7^th May in Poole Park, detailing the expected challenges and experiences that had been learnt at last year's Poole Park Fest. Nick confirmed that a presence of PCSOs would be available, and that he would be interested in providing a police information stand.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The meaning of ' a police presence' has radically changed over the years, it may have sounded menacing in the past and there as a deterrent rather than the superb line of support and communication that it is today.  All our PCSO'S And Community Wardens have proven to be exemplars in their field and a terrific asset to all Poole communities, I am very much looking forward to putting on a really super Grand Spring Fayre and with the support of all the emergency services it is set to be an exciting and informative event."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Superintendent Nick Hazleton in her Parlour

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met ex-councillor Mr Ray Parish in her Parlour.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "It was a great pleasure to be able to entertain Ray and Carolyn in my Parlour. Ray has been linked to the Borough of Poole man and boy having worked as a staff member for over 40 years and then as a Poole Cllr for until 2003.  He is well known for his bad taste in hats and is seen on a regular basis at Cllr Smith's street  collections wearing yet another first in millinery!!  Ray and Carolyn have been great supporters of the Mayoralty for decades and my year has been no exception, I was delighted to be presented with two beautiful paintings created by Ray for me to auction for my chosen charities, they really are lovely scenic views and will be snapped up, thanks to Ray and Carolyn and thousands of others like them; my Charities will greatly benefit from all their kindnesses."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Ray and Carolyn Parish in her Parlour

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met Mr Darren Northeast of Spiral Marketing for lunch at Café Shore.

Mr Northeast won a prestigious Dorset Business award last December in the Business Commitment to Community section, a huge achievement which Cllr Mrs Judy Butt as Mayor of Poole was present to see Mr Northeast, as she presented his co-award winner Poole High School with their award.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I am extremely proud of Darren and his team, having only been working in his rather unique chosen field of PR for 18 months and achieving such a fantastic and well deserved accolade for his hard work.  The difference is that Darren really has an eye for detail and ensures that his business projects really benefit the community as a whole, it's an amazing edge and one that obviously caught the eye of the judges in the 2006 Dorset Business awards. A 'spiral' will by its very nature continue to infinity. I wish Darren and his company that same success in the future."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Darren Northeast of Spiral Marketing in her Parlour.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, was unfortunately admitted to Poole Hospital on Saturday morning with a broken leg. An X-ray examination showed the injury to be a spiral fracture to the tibia and comminute fracture to the fibula of the left leg.

The accident occurred when the Mayor launched the synthetic skating rink in Falkland Square. The Mayor, ever keen to promote her charity appeal was static at the time holding a collection bucket when she lost her balance and fell. The Mayor will undergo surgery to repair the bones with rods and pins.

The Mayor said "This is an unfortunate accident that could have happened to anybody and I was thoroughly enjoying myself on the rink prior to the fall. This mustn't deter people from using the rink as it really is great fun. I hope to be out and about as quickly as possible as Saturday 24th February is the fundraising day at the rink for my charity and I want to be there to give my full support."

We wish the Mayor a speedy recovery!

N.B For any Mayoral events due to take place this week, please contact Pauline Gill on 01202 633043 email p.gill@poole.gov.uk.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended the premiere performance of ‘Grease - the Musical' at St Edward's School, Oakdale.

Based on the original Broadway smash hit, 35 young people attending the school took to the boards in a polished extravaganza of acting, music and dancing that held the audience gripped for the whole evening and fully demonstrated the level of preparation and commitment that the students have put into their work. They were backed in dramatic fashion by the 7-piece school band and by a small group of behind-the-scenes workers who were just as essential as the show's stars.

With its existing strong tradition in music and drama, the school is submitting a bid for Specialist School status to becoming a fully-fledged Performing Arts College, specialising in music, drama and dance. If successful, the enhanced status will bring new opportunities in the form of extra courses, facilities (potentially including a recording studio) and partnership working. The Grease production forms a key element of the bid.

Greeted by Head Teacher Pola Bevan, the Mayor, whose own daughter Georgina Butt was among the actors on stage, enjoyed the show and ended the evening by meeting, congratulating and encouraging the tired but triumphant cast. During the interval, she met many of the parents and family in the audience, hearing nothing but praise and astonishment at the achievements of the young people.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "These youngsters are our future and deserve every chance we can give them; if they this good now who knows what they can become with the extra opportunities and training. My daughter Georgie had a wonderful time taking part and I can already see how the experience has given her more confidence and poise. I am giving the school's bid my total backing and wish them every success."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, and by her husband Mr David Butt, being greeted by Head Teacher Mrs Pola Bevan at St Edward's School.

The chorus of ‘Grease' take the stage at the start of the musical.

The gangs in the show - ‘Burger Palace Boys' with ‘Pink Ladies'.

Romance blossoms between the two stars, Danny and Sandy.

During the interval, the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, talks to one of the proud parents.

Back on stage, all the students at the ‘High School Hop'.

Good girl goes bad - Sandy surprises Danny by showing just how good - or bad - she can be.

Finale - Sandy gets her boy and joins the Pink Ladies.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, joined the first anniversary celebrations at Poole Old Town Youth Club at the United Reform Church, Skinner Street.

The club was set up in collaboration between local residents Poole Housing Partnership and the United Reformed Church at Skinner Street and the Poole Town Centre SNT, and has been running since February 2006, and now has over 40 members. The club is run at the Church Hall in Skinner Street every Tuesday between 8.00 pm and 9.30 pm for 11 to 17 year olds. This is aimed at addressing issues of anti-social behaviour in the Poole Old Town Estate and addressing the concerns of the young people that there was nothing to do.

Greeted by PHP Housing Officer Donna Saunders, the Mayor had a superb evening chatting with the young people, watching dance demonstrations and meeting the officers and volunteers who make the club possible.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was a little daunted at first having been told about the asb issues, but what I found was lots of youngsters who just wanted to have fun, and I don't know how anyone can begrudge them that. They are a great bunch, and I especially want to thank the volunteers who make this club possible."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, receive an enthusiastic welcome from younger members at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, makes some new friends at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, leads a round of applause for the volunteers and organisers at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

Young dancers performing at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with one of the dancing teams at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with youth club members and supporters.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with newly-appointed committee members at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with a young member at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the grown-up organisers and supporters at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, and her husband Mr David Butt, sport the results of an encounter with the face-painting expert at the Poole Old Town Youth Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, visited the Aldbury Nursing Home in Ringwood Road to meet Taz, a gentle gorgeous border collie, who with her owners Val and Maurice Metcalfe visits elderly residents as part of the Caring Canines group.

Taz, almost 6 years old, has been a regular visitor for 5 years and is a favourite among the residents, possessing an uncanny sense of how and when to approach some more difficult patients. A real poser for the camera, she gives her all on visits and will usually sleep for hours afterwards.

The Mayor was greeted by Mrs Julie Lankshear, secretary of Caring Canines and a visitor herself until recently, and escorted around the home's day rooms and some of the private rooms. She took great pleasure in meeting the residents, most of whom have fascinating stories of their own to tell after living for many years in Poole. She also commented on the high and comfortable standard of design of the Aldbury Home which is coordinated with others in the same group, allowing residents to progress between levels of care without the disorientation and trauma which often accompanies such a move. The home was nominated for a Poole Pride of Place Award in 2005.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Taz is marvellous with the residents, she seems to know exactly what each person needs and never tires of giving her affection unconditionally. I was very impressed with the Aldbury, not just the buildings and physical care, but they also never forget that their residents are real people, and try to maintain the maximum quality of life for as long as possible."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mrs Julie Lankshear, secretary of Caring Canines, at the Aldbury Nursing Home.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, visits with residents in one of several day rooms at the Aldbury Nursing Home.

Caring Canine Taz with her owner Val Metcalfe, visiting a resident at the Aldbury Nursing Home.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, shakes hands with Taz, while they visit one of the residents together at the Aldbury Nursing Home.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, swaps collars (but not leads!) with Taz at the Aldbury Nursing Home.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, attended the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Study Gallery, organised by the Dragon of the South dance club.

The Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries, which predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) we use at the present day which goes back only some 425 years. The Chinese New Year, which commenced on 18^th February, is year 4705 in the Chinese calendar, otherwise known as the Year of the Pig (which occurs every 16 years). In Chinese astrology, 2007 is also associated with the lucky metal gold, leading some people to believe that children born during the year will be twice blessed.

The Mayor, who took part in a Chinese Dragon Dance last summer (see Mayor's Diary for 28^th August 2006), was greeted by organiser Andy Chu and escorted to watch the traditional Chinese Lion Dance. The club have just acquired a new lion, and the Mayor was highly honoured to be asked to paint the finishing touches to the eyes, ears, nose and claws, thus bringing the new lion to life for the first time. During the dance, the new lion presented the Mayor with a huge red scroll lettered with the words ‘KUNG HEI FAT CHOI', which translates as Happy New Year, and the scroll now occupies pride of place in the Mayor's Parlour.

The Lion Dance was also watched by teachers and children from a local pre-school, and the Mayor took great delight in meeting both afterwards.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I have known Andy Chu for a long time and having joined in the Long Dragon Dance at last year's Poole Park Fest, when he invited me to this event I said ‘as long as I don't have to dance backwards for a mile again!' Seriously, the dance was a delight and I was privileged to be able to bring the new lion to life. Events like this demonstrate how integrating other cultures can add value and quality to our own community of Poole."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with College Principal Rowland Foote on arrival at the Study Gallery.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the two lions prior to the Lion Dance.

A great honour - the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, closely supervised by organiser Andy Chu, paints the finishing touches to the new lion to bring it to life prior to the Lion Dance.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by College Principal Rowland Foote, proudly displays the New Year scroll presented to her by ‘her' new lion.

The lions in action during the Lion Dance at the Study Gallery.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, shows off the scroll with organiser Andy Chu and ‘her' lion.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the scroll occupying a prominent spot in her Parlour.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, was delighted to present awards to two young sailors at Poole Yacht Club in celebration of their winning gold awards at the Sydney Olympics.

Presentation certificates were awarded by the Mayor to two young sailors Matt Rainbird and Katie MacGregor, who won gold awards at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney recently, the British team narrowly beating Western Australia in a sail-off. Established following the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the Festival is now in its 5^th year and has included sailing for the first time this year. In a surprise move, the Mayor presented commemmoration shields to the two young champions in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Both come from established sailing families; Matt's father Colin Rainbird is currently Commodore of the Club, while Katie's father Jim MacGregor served as Commodore 1997-2000.

Following the presentations, the young award winners enjoyed lunch with the Mayor and Consort and officers of the Club.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Matt and Katie are an absolute exemplar of the very best of our modern youth, their achievements are extraordinary and I am honoured to be invited to celebrate their success."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, and Vice-Commodore John Lewis and his wife on arrival at Poole Yacht Club

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Rear Commodore Addio Obeid at Poole Yacht Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, talking with club members prior to the presentation.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, shares one of her outrageous jokes with members at Poole Yacht Club.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, makes the presentation to Katie MacGregor with her parents.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, makes the presentation to Matt Rainbird with his parents.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, makes her own presentation of commemorative plaques to the two gold medallists.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, and her husband Mr David Butt, with Poole Yacht Club officers Commodore Colin Rainbird, Rear Commodore L Thornton-Grimes, Vice-Commodore John Lewis and Rear Commodore Addio Obeid.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended a performance of the Lindenmeyer Dance System at the Lighthouse, staged by Dance South-West.

The Lindenmeyer Dance System is no ordinary way to experience dance. Based around the themes of immigration and cultural identity, a strict Master of Ceremonies is in charge of both the dancers and the audience who are on the stage together in a promenade performance. The audience are labeled, bound and positioned and re-positioned on the stage, surrounded by and immersed in the action, on the move, and gripped by the emotive impact of this incredible work.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "This was an unusual and slightly disconcerting experience and may not be for everybody, but I found it interesting and gained a fascinating insight into the problems of immigrants arriving in a strange country, disorientated and not in control of their own lives. The acting was superb and I found the show highly thought-provoking."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Duty Manager Simon Barker and representatives from the Arts Council on arrival at the Lighthouse.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the cast at the Lighthouse.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended the premiere of a pantomime of ‘Alice in Wonderland' held at St Aldhelm's Church, Branksome.

The production followed the traditional theme of the musical, with the well-loved Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Cheshire Cat and a really frightening Jabberwocky, all played by church members and young guides and beavers.

On arrival, the Mayor was greeted by her friend and colleague Cllr Joyce Lavender, who also produced and directed the pantomime.  After meeting and encouraging the cast (especially the younger ones), the Mayor settled down to enjoy the show, making use of the intermissions to circulate and meet members of the audience who were also enjoying the show. The Mayor's usual luck held in the raffle, winning two prizes (one, a nice bottle of wine, is no longer with us but the other prize will reappear in a Mayor's Charity raffle in the near future).

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "The performance was brilliant, and I particularly loved the youngsters, one young performer especially looked destined to be a great dancer, whether she follows that career or not. These shows enacted by and for their local residents are the essence of Poole's community spirit and are what makes our town such a wonderful place to live."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, meets the cast before the performance at the pantomime at St Aldhelm's Church.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, chatting with members of the audience at the pantomime at St Aldhelm's Church.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with colleague Cllr Mrs Joyce Lavender who produced the pantomime and sound technician Martin Thresh.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, draws the raffle, helped by Alice and the White Rabbit.

The whole cast on stage during the finale of the pantomime at St Aldhelm's Church.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met Mr Steve Tite, Head of Poole Council's Transportation Services, to discuss her forthcoming Spring Fair on 6^th and 7^th May.

The Mayor outlined the plans for the event and the possible traffic implications, in particular the road closure in Poole Park and parking provision for the event, and signage needed for the two days. They also covered the planned Beating of the Sea Bounds on 28^th April, with the Mayor advising Steve about her star attraction, a Royal Marines simulator which had been offered for her use for the day. This event involved closing part of Poole Quay to ensure the safety of people attending the event. The Mayor also alerted Steve to the possible influx of coaches during the year, when thousands of scouts and guides will be visiting Brownsea Island for the Scouting centenary, all crossing from Poole Quay.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Getting the advice and agreement of the Transportation department is vital, there is so much to think about and what seems a very easy task is certainly much more complicated than first envisaged. Steve was very supportive and was able to point out a few pitfall that I would not have thought of.  With the traffic and transport areas covered the Spring Fair planning is really beginning to take shape."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Steve Tite, Head of Poole Council's Transportation Services, in her Parlour

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, attended the annual Royal Naval Parade of Poole Sea Cadets at TS Drax.

The national Sea Cadet Corps dates from the time of the Crimean War, when sailors returning home in 1856 formed the Naval Lads' Brigade to help orphans in the back streets of the sea ports, the first brigade being formed at Whitstable, Kent. The Poole Sea Cadets, formed in 1938, has been based at TS Drax in Sterte Avenue since the late 1940s, developing from two Nissan huts to the purpose-built headquarters seen today. Following an early struggle, the unit has developed into one of the best in the area, regularly gaining the Burgee for a particularly high standard of efficiency.

Greeted by Officer in Charge Jim Welch and Chairman Mr Alan Brooker, the Mayor and her Consort, together with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Mr Anthony Yeatman with his wife Mrs Wendy Yeatman, were piped aboard by a guard of honour and escorted to a viewing area to watch the parade. The cadets snapped to attention as the inspecting officer, Commander Gary Bushell RN, who has recently returned from Iraq, walked along the lines of cadets, exchanging a few words of encouragement with each, then presented the unit with the latest Burgee for its achievements during 2006, congratulating the cadets and encouraging them to improve further in the coming year. The Lord Lieutenants Youth Escort was present that evening to escort the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, but the tables were turned as the Deputy Lord Lieutenant awarded him with a first class certificate for seamanship expertise. The Mayor, whose own son Able Cadet Charlie Butt was among the cadets on parade, was invited to speak and she thanked especially the volunteers who made the unit possible.

Following a break, the audience reassembled as the cadets presented a humorous sketch to illustrate life on board a ship, starting with Reveille (one of the officers was heard to remark ‘It's not realistic - nobody complained!'), showing different aspects such as tackling a fire and disciplinary actions, and including an impressive demonstration of club-swinging. It also included an audience-participation game of tying a reef knot, the only catch being that four people were holding the rope and were not allowed to let go! The results were hilarious, with players crawling through loops of rope and getting tied together. The Mayor's team were disqualified for blatant cheating, although the Mayor on hearing this pulled her rank as Admiral of the Port and demanded an enquiry!!! The event concluded with an evening parade accompanied by a bugled ‘Last Post' followed by some very welcome nibbles and an opportunity to relax and chat.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "TS Drax like all the youth organisations in Poole provides a super environment for our children to evolve and grow." 

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband David Butt, Officer in Charge Jim Welch and a junior cadet who was given the honour of assisting the Mayor from her limousine on arrival at TS Drax

The Poole Sea Cadets guard waiting to parade for inspection at TS Drax

The senior division of Poole Sea Cadets on parade, commanded by one of the Mayor's Youth Escorts Tom Newman

The senior division of Poole Sea Cadets being inspected by Commander Gary Bushell RN at TS Drax

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, talking with Commander Gary Bushell and other officers at TS Drax

A knotty problem - The Mayor's team in a tangle during the competition to tie a reef knot at TS Drax

Evening parade - both divisions of Poole Sea Cadets wait for the Evening Colours ceremony at TS Drax

Evening Colours - Officers salute the flags as they are lowered for the end of the day

Uniforms galore! The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her Youth Escort Catherine Harvey, her son Charlie Butt, her friend's son Andrew Maynard and Youth Escort Tom Newman

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her Charity Committee Chairman Jackie Maynard and husband Ross, with their son Andrew

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, proudly shows off her son Able Cadet Charlie Butt

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, opened a lecture and private viewing of the works of artists Professor Simon Olding and Jim Hunter at the Arts Institute at Wallisdown.

Entitled ‘A Short Grand Tour', the touring exhibition consists of works selected from Jim Hunter's Venice studies in which he explores the potential of watercolour to carry meaning within the context of contemporary art. Jim draws in paint directly from the landscape, working quickly outdoors with watercolour and whatever else may be at hand. His large paintings are bold and experimental, working in a medium which is often regarded as amateur, but which allows the use of the white paper to introduce a feel of spaciousness.

The Mayor was greeted by the Art School Registrar Ms Christine Finnigan, and was delighted to be introduced to the two lecturers at once. She introduced Mr Bernard Dyer of Poole Maritime Trust, who presented a Turland Award for endeavour and excellence to Mr Adam Gayle, a student at the Institute. Following the lecture, the Mayor used the limited time she had available before leaving for her next engagement to explore the gallery of Jim Hunter's paintings, talking to the students and lecturers who joined her in the gallery.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was, to be honest, a little out of my depth but the enthusiasm and passion displayed by Jim the artist was palpable. I did try to ask an intelligent question and was surprised when I was told ‘that's a good question', the answer though was understood by all the really professional artists and budding artists in the room rather than myself. However art is personal to the artist and the observer, so whatever you think of art is acceptable, which I think is great, so no matter who you are your opinion is fine."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with artist Professor Jim Hunter, Bernard Dyer of Poole Maritime Trust, award winner Adam Gayle and his mother, and Professor Simon Olding in the gallery at the Arts Institute

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, discussing the presentation with Art School Registrar Christine Finnigan and Bernard Dyer at the Arts Institute

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Turland award winner Adam Gayle and his mother at the Arts Institute

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with artists Professor Jim Hunter and Professor Simon Olding in the gallery at the Arts Institute

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met Mr Chris Bullen of owner of the familiar Poole Land Train running between Poole Quay and Poole Park, and the famous Poole Park Miniature Railway, to discuss her forthcoming Spring Fair.

Mr Bullen, a showman with many years of experience all over the country, proved to be a fount of knowledge and ideas for improving the Spring Fair, and will be an important contributor to the event. In discussion with the Mayor, he offered to help with advertising, arranging several attractions, and arranging crowd control measures for the event.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Every time I talk to anyone about the Fair, it continues to grow in size, variety and excitement. Chris is worth his weight in gold, and I'm really looking forward to all the extra attractions he can bring to it."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Chris Bullen in her Parlour

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, opened the ‘Speak Out 2007' event at the Lighthouse for the Help and Care charity.

Help and Care was first formed in 1985 to look into the needs of older people, disabled people and their carers in Bournemouth, becoming an independent charity in 1989 and expanding their role to include carers of all ages. Help and Care is now recognised in the local and national arena, and have an influence on major policy decisions and service developments that affect diverse communities nationwide.

Facilitated by Help and Care, Speak Out 2007 was a free event for carers, friends and family, and service providers, giving participants an opportunity to voice their problems and aspirations, and to help shape local services. The event was attended by Borough of Poole, Poole Hospital Trust, Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust, Fire, Police and Ambulance Services, Dorset Healthcare Trust and the Pensions Service. The Mayor was delighted to be invited to open the event with a light-hearted but congratulatory speech, then taking part in the first debate about social housing, and meeting all the service providers present, together with many of the individual attendees in the very limited time available before her next engagement.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "I was overwhelmed by the number of residents who attended the seminar, it is a clear indication of the close community spirit that we enjoy here in Poole. With over half the population of Poole set to be over 50 by 2008 the need to start planning for early for one's needs as one gets older is ever more pressing. Help and Care are working hard to facilitate self advocacy in this regard so that people can decide what they will need in the future whilst they are still fit and active enough to implement those changes."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, and her chauffeur Mr Mike Weetman arrive at the Civic for an early start - note the Mayor's id badge worn in support of the recent new security procedures

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mark Sharman of Help and Care and the duty manager at the Lighthouse at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mark Sharman and Barry Bull of Help and Care at Speak Out 2007

A huge turnout for Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with representatives from Dorset Fire Service at Speak Out 2007

Not sure what she has in mind - The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, presented with a free wooden paddle by Dorset Fire Service at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, meets an old friend Mr Ralph Monk, winner of a Gold Community Champion Award (see Mayor's Diary 2^nd November 2006) at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, making a new friend at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Penny Hever and Pauline Malins from Poole Hospital Trust at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with colleagues Cllrs Charles Meachin and Joyce Lavender (right) at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Poole Housing Partnership Director John Tyrell at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with another colleague Cllr Michael Brooke at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with another friend Poole Housing Partnership Director Ann Deacon at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, joining the debate with attendees at Speak Out 2007

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, met Mr Phil Taylor of Brandon Tool Hire, who provide the familiar green portable toilets for many public events throughout the conurbation and beyond.

The Mayor had a particular brief in that she wanted the toilets to be completely eco-friendly as she was most concerned that no damage was inflicted upon the Park, coupled with a need to promote environmentally friendly services within the Borough. Mr Taylor was delighted to be able to explain how his facilities had only recently been converted to being completely eco-friendly, using only biodegradable, non-harmful and non-staining products. The units themselves were built from mainly recyclable materials, costing about £1200 each fully fitted. For public events he keeps a separate stock of units, which are not used on building sites or other locations where they may become dirty or damaged.

Discussing the Spring Fair with the Mayor, he estimated a requirement of about 20 units in addition to the permanent toilets in Poole Park, the Mayor again was insistent that good toilet provision be installed, better one too many than one too few. 

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "It is very important to get the basics sorted early, such as toilets, waste bin provision, fencing, refreshments, car parking, road closures, insurance etc to name only a few and I am very happy that the planning stage is progressing well. "

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with Mr Phil Taylor of Brandon Tool Hire in her Parlour