Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole 2006/07

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt opened the new ‘Ash' restaurant in Ashley Road in Parkstone.

Arriving at the crowded restaurant, the Mayor was greeted by the joint owners Karl Ingham and Darren Martin (Chef Extraordinaire) and made an ‘edgy' speech of welcome before cutting a bright red ribbon to formally open the new restaurant. While being treated to superb champagne and delicious canapés, the Mayor made a point of meeting all the invited guests and discussed cabbages and kings especially Savoys and King Edwards!!

Darren Martin, who at 28 is the Head Chef, has previously worked at Pebble Beach, Splinters and Westbeach, and has spent time researching food and recipes while working across Europe and North Africa. As a result, the new restaurant will offer influences from Morocco, Spain, France and Italy as well as the ‘volcanic stone' method of cooking offered by the Volcano Stone restaurant which previously occupied the same premises. For contact information about Ash restaurant, see www.ashcatering.co.uk/.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "As Mayor I had a choice of scissors to use from the Mayoral Regalia, and I picked those previously used to open the Seldown Bridge, because I am certain this new restaurant will be a high flyer. I don't do food but the Dom Perignon was scrummy and I was delighted to assist mine hosts in ensuring there was no wastage in the bubbly department!! Well it is Christmas and just once in a while one's little foibles have to be allowed for, even of you are the Mayor!! I promise to make a good New Year's resolution that I can keep to based on truth, integrity and honesty, ergo,  ‘I promise to ensure that at all times I will drink  in Moderation, the Dog and Duck, the Tumblers Half Crown and the  Flute and Fairy!!!"

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt and owners Karl Ingham and Darren Martin outside the new ‘Ash' restaurant in Parkstone.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt and some of the invited guests at the opening of the new ‘Ash' restaurant in Parkstone.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, sampling the superb champagne at the opening of the new ‘Ash' restaurant in Parkstone.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the artist who decorated the new ‘Ash' restaurant in Parkstone (see background of photo).

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with two young helpers at the opening of the new ‘Ash' restaurant in Parkstone.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt welcomed sixty five guests and volunteers who had a fantastic time together on Christmas day at the Salvation Army in New Orchard, Old Poole. Volunteer drivers brought in the guests, who would otherwise have spent the day on their own. Entertainment by electric organist Roy Brook put everyone in a jolly mood before the much-appreciated visit of the Mayor of Poole, Councillor Mrs Judy Butt and Mayor's Consort, Mr David Butt; their three children, Daniel, Charlie and Georgie, were also invited to attend to meet the very special guests.  The Mayor gave a welcoming speech sharing her ‘Bob Cratchett Turkey story' to  all present.

The story in a nutshell being, (but the Mayor dragged it out much further for theatrical effect) that she had sent her husband out a tad late to buy the Christmas Turkey on Christmas Eve, and triumphant he had returned with a turkey that had obviously been hiding behind an ice cube in the freezer, that was so small that earlier on in the day Bob Cratchett of Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol' fame and his family had popped in but turned the turkey down as even too small for his family!!!!  The Mayor and her family greeted all the guests and volunteers, spending time chatting with them individually over an hour or so.

The Mayor then led the guests in a verse of ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas' which was much enjoyed by everyone. The Mayor had specifically requested that ‘grace' would be said with her and her family present to ensure a true sense of sharing and family on such a special day, and Major Philip Mountain was very happy to agree to the Mayor's request and gave a touching and relevant ‘grace' for the festive season. The Mayor's party then reluctantly took their leave to allow the guests to enjoy a full Christmas luncheon, followed by party games and carol singing. For more information about the Salvation Army in Poole, see www.poolesa.org/index.html.

The Mayor Cllr Mrs Judy Butt said "David, the children and I were delighted to be asked to share our own Christmas with what must have been one of the largest ‘family' gatherings in Poole on Christmas Day. The sense of true companionship and genuine affection was tangible and embodied the true Christian meaning of the birth of our Lord Jesus."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, Major Philip Mountain (right), and volunteers on Christmas Day at the Salvation Army in New Orchard, Poole.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, inspects the ‘roasties' in the kitchen at the Salvation Army in Poole.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with some of the Christmas guests at the Salvation Army in Poole.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt and family, fellow Councillors and supporters, took part in the annual fancy dress Christmas bucket shake in Poole High Street, organised year in year out by past Mayor Cllr Ray Smith, the fancy dress being the brainchild of the present Mayor, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt many years ago when she was first asked to help out at the normal Christmas Bucket shake. The day's bucket shaking was backed by seasonal cheerful music and carols.

Despite the last minute pressures to be ready for the festivities, helpers turned out in large numbers, most wearing seasonal fancy dress so that Poole High Street had an exceptional turnout of Santa Claus's, snowmen, elves, Snow Princesses and indeterminate costumes, the star of the show being the Mayor in her stunning Madame Santa outfit. In very cold but dry weather, shoppers were in a generous giving mood just before Christmas and contributed a magnificent £1075 towards the Mayor's charities; Poole Citizen's Advice Bureau, Poole Forum and Help and Care. For full information about the Mayor's charities, see www.boroughofpoole.com/mayor.

The favourite comment of the day went to a shopper who approached a Santa and asked the way to Iceland, to be told to head north and bear left past Scotland! At 11 am, most of the collectors downed buckets and formed up into a choir for carol singing, led by Choir Mistress Cllr Joyce Lavender the medley included a superb solo of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter' by the Mayor, brilliantly backed by the newly formed impromptu choir!

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "It was a great day with a fab turnout of helpers and shoppers. As usual I wore my Madame Christmas outfit and was rewarded on several occasion by the ‘posting' of paper money in my garters, brave men really to venture that far but all in a super cause and much laughter was had by all present. My personal thanks to Cllr Smith who works so hard to ensure that every bucket shake is a tremendous success, guaranteeing that the money is counted and safely locked away long after we had all gone home!"

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, in her stunning Madame Santa outfit, with a bucket during the fancy dress bucket collection in Poole High Street.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with the impromptu carol choir during the fancy dress bucket collection in Poole High Street.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, visited the breakfast club at Civic Club in Poole's Civic Centre.

Making a particularly early start, the Mayor dropped in on Council staff who were having breakfast in the Civic Club before starting the day's work. Talking to both diners and the kitchen and waiting staff, the Mayor wished them season's greetings.

Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "What a great idea and a super way to wind down at work to prepare for the Christmas Season. The Civic Club looked great thanks to the hard work of the staff. We rely on them to be there for us week in week out, providing delicious food and drink at amazing prices, my personal thanks to them for their continuing commitment and excellent service."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with staff at the Civic Club in Poole's Civic Centre.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, accompanied by her husband and Consort Mr David Butt, visited the Santa Claus Grotto in Poole's Dolphin Centre. For more information about the Dolphin Centre, see www.dolphin-shopping-centre.co.uk/.

After being greeted by Dolphin Centre Acting Manager Mr Dave Pickett, the Mayor entered the Grotto to tell Santa about what she would like for Christmas - "a Ferrari, Arnie Schwarznegger and Peace on Earth, not necessarily in that order"!!

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, and Santa's elf at the Santa Claus Grotto in Poole's Dolphin Centre.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, with her husband Mr David Butt, and Santa at the Santa Claus Grotto in Poole's Dolphin Centre.