Bart Ricketts

In amongst some of the wettest weather Kingston has seen for a long time we were blessed with an afternoon of glorious sunshine for the annual Royal Borough of Kingston Staff and Councillors vs. Kingston Racial Equality Council Cricket match.  The match was closely fought with RBK just beating the Racial Equality Council to receive the trophy.  It was good to get involved in the team work of playing cricket again even if I was bowled out by a girl. 

Thanks to all those involved in the organisation and good luck to next year's teams. 

Today I attended the licensing of Vicky Maunder as a Parish Priest in the Kingston Team Ministry at St John's church near the University.  The service was delivered by the Right Reverend Richard Cheetham, The Bishop of Kingston and it was encouraging to see so many of the parish out to support Vicky. 

Those in the picture above, from Left to Right are:   Ann Cornick, ny fellow church-warden Mervyn Norton (St John's churchwarden) Don't know his name, he is a Straggler who is a Kingston Councillor for the Ward St John's church is in. Jonathan Wilkes, Rector of All Saints Vicky Maunder Mick Cooper (Lay reader) Robert Ritchie (non stipendiary priest) Bishop of Kingston Isobel Robinson (another Lay reader) Sally Leeson (another non-stipendiary priest) Pat Lines (St John's churchwarden) Archdeacon of Wandsworth and Mike Bangham (All Saints churchwarden)

I was very privileged to be invited by John Azar to Chair the AGM with Guest speaker  Sir Ian Blair, Met Police Commissioner. It was a very interesting meeting . Please see the Surrey Comet for Sir Ian views.

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/search/display.var.1550922.0.met_backs_stop_knife_crime_campaign.php

I was please to vist the Gomes Tea Party, in aid of the Lunchbowl Network , this is a school-based charity set up in response to the plight of orphans in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. There are thousands of children living in the Kibera who, through no fault of their own, find themselves living in abject poverty, without access to sanitation, medication and water.This situation is compounded by an extreme lack of food together with the deep emotional loss of their parents.

It was very interesting to talk with Sally Mcgreevy, a trustee of the project who told me about her trip to Nairobi and about the valuable work this charity does. The event was also supported by Sarah-Jane Honeywell a Chidren's presenter from the BBC.

Saturday 7th of July was one of my busiest days yet as Deputy Mayor.  Not only was my mother in Kingston visiting me, but I had three functions to attend.

 The day started with a Citizenship Ceromony at the Guildhall Kingston, with Mayor Shiraz Mirza. 

The Mayor with some of Kingston's newest citizens               The Mayor, Mayoress, Deputy Mayor and Attendent

Next on the agenda was the Malden Parochial School Summer Fair to which my mother kindly accompanied me.  The weather was great and lots of people turned out to enjoy this family fun day.  Even Harry (Mayoral Attendant) got into the spirit winning a coconut on one of the stalls.  A great fair, well done and thank you to all involved in the organisation especially Mrs Grigg, Head teacher for the invitation.  

Head Teacher Mrs Grigg and myself      Harry enjoying the fun of the fair          The Fulham Football Club Mascot and me

Just as I was recovering from an afternoon of fair ground stalls and bouncy castles it was time to don the chains again this time for the annual Beating Retreat and Presentation of Queensmen from The London District Boys Brigade.  I decided to give my mum the evening off and instead my friend Bella accompanied me to The Royal Hospital Chelsea.  Thankfully the sky stayed clear for the whole evening whilst we watched young people from across London display some of the skills they had developed by joining the Boys and Girls Brigades.  The evening finished with the awarding of the Queensmen to 16 young men followed by the Retreat Ceremony.  The setting of The Royal Hospital's Figure Court was perfect and many of the pensioners sat and watched the ceremony especially the wonderful music provided by the marching bands. 

I was very please to be invited to the first music performance of Stage Right Studios at  Kingston College, Arthur Cotterell  Theatre. The new dancers and performers had huge confidence and talent and every enjoyed the evening.