Bart Ricketts

Held at the  London Scottish Golf Club, Windmill Enclosure, Wimbledon Common. It was good to chat and network with local groups all of who use and support the Enviornment on the Common. Unfortunaly I did not meet a Womble though,may be next time.. 

On the way home I caught up with Rob Cavallini a friend from Kingston Univeristy who was launching his new book :

Play Up Corinth,  A History of local Corinthian Football Club.. 

 It was great to attend the award at City hall were i got to meet lots of people involved in sport from across London. Including Jo Fenn  an international 800m runner I chatted to with interest, as I had been a keen 800m runner at University and even a member of the elite British Milers Club. Also I asked for some training tips, as I have recently been accepted for the London Marathon on April 13 2008, where I will be running for the Mayor's Charity.

Please do sponsor me you can pledge by email cheers.

A huge thank you to Ed from the council sports department who has done allot of sport development work in the borough. And my friend Holly, who I used to work with at the Student's Union for attending as my guest..

Winners Oceana Night Club and Druids Head Pub..

I'm very pleased that we are able to bring Best Bar None to Kingston Town Centre. The scheme will add to the range of excellent initiatives, designed by partners in 'Safer Kingston', which enhance the Town as one of the best places to visit . Many licenced premises work very hard to ensure their patrons and visitors and surrounding communities are safe, and this gives the opportunity to recognise that responsibility, and for good practice to be identified and shared for the benefit of all.'

This Best Bar None Award was established in 2003 to recognise alcohol vending organisations with a long standing commitment to social responsibility and the safety of people using their premises.

Premises gaining the Award display a plaque outside to show the public that they have reached the Best Bar None standard and care about social responsibility, and their customers' welfare. This gives the customer a more informed choice when choosing where to consume alcohol and supports premises who seek to trade at a higher and more responsible standard.

 Arthritis Care New Malden Branch AGM

I was very pleased to attend the exhibition of Vibrant paintings and indian inspired events and activities, including a dance performance by Kingston Gujarati School.

It was interesting to meet the artist Caroline Jariwala .

I was very pleased and proud to attend my charites curry evening as Chairman and D.M.

Local charity Save The World Club celebrates its 20^th Anniversary this Friday with a super delicious curry and a fabulous evening sponsored by local development company the FiL Group Ltd. The curry evening held at the Shiraz Mirza Community Hall in Norbiton.

Councillor Bart Ricketts, Deputy Mayor of  Kingston and SWC Chairman since 2002, said today "I am so proud to be involved with such a dynamic and future thinking charity which has always had the environment at the front of its aims. Just at the time when everyone is now thinking of the environment and realising the damage we are doing to the planet I wish we could all join a Club like SWC to help save the earth together."   

Among the successes of SWC in 20 years has been:

*Professor Kayoss, SWC founder Des Kay, has been performing to more than 40,000 people across Britain and was crowned Regional Green Champion in the Green Guardian Awards in 2006

*SWC declared UK's Best New Charity 2002

*More than 8,000 people taking part in anti-graffiti mosaic work locally

*Including creation of the largest community mosaic in the UK in 

*Queens Award for Voluntary Service, 2004

* Saving of the Kingston Welsh Hall for community use

*Two Kingston Townscape Awards for urban beautification

*Creation of the incredible Glastonbury Green Police Team

* Jobs and training for more than 40 local adults over the last 20 years

Since Save The World Club's formation they have enlisted support from a wide ranging community and created arts and cultural projects like mosaic to upgrade the living environment. Tonnes of previous waste like tiles, stone and mirror have been used to beautify walls and underpasses.

Comedy and Humour are a big part in the groups success and the comedy shows of professor Kayoss, the charities founder, Des Kay have proved a popular and universal appeal across the UK. The groups latest project, mosaicing the gardens and entrance to the children's cancer ward at Kingston Hospital will be unveiled to the public at a ceremony on 6^th December 2007.

The evenings programme and entertainment is kindly and generously sponsored by FiLGROUP and Mark Lawson FiLGROUP's founder and managing director will be helping with the raffle and auction.  He said, "As a local property development company, FiLGROUP is pleased to support SWC's creative approach to regeneration and the environment. On a personal note - as a Kingston resident and parent - I appreciate the immense value of the educational services SWC provides to our children and I wish SWC success in their appeal to save the Welsh Hall."

Staff and Trustees SWC.....

A very emotional service was help at London at St James's Piccadilly.  Road Peace remembered the victims and tributes to loved ones were offered by the charity. It worrying to think 3,500 people are killed and more than 150,000 injured every day on the world's roads.

 I was very pleased to join Radio Jackie's D.J Neil Long, The band 4 Stroke, Worcester Park Locals and Lee MacDonald ,(Zammo from Grange Hill ! ).Over £1000 was rasied.

A great night was had by all a brilliant evening to celebrate Green Environmental achievements in South West London.

I was very pleased to attend the award's ceremony and meet Lord Lieutenant Mrs Sarah Goad JP, as well as other local Mayor's and Army personal including a Colonel from Sandhurst. Also my friend's Vicki's Cousin Peter, long story, but it is a small world in Surrey. 

Kingston University John Galsworthy Building Opening Ceremony

Bart's just so Smart By Lisa Willams 

The deputy mayor of Kingston, Councillor Bart Ricketts, has set an environmental example by trading in his car for a greener version.

Selling his Ford Focus to someone who does fewer miles than he did, he has invested in a Smart car to go about his job and his mayoral role.

He said: "The Smart car has an engine one litre smaller than the Ford and does more miles per gallon.

"It is town friendly and vastly reduces emissions."

Coun Ricketts, who is chairman of the Save the World Club, vows to get an electric car once they become affordable.

 I was very proud to attend and speak on this day, as my Great Uncle Ray Horne died at Dunkirk.

Please see this link for a Surrey Comets Video.

Inter Faith Group Kingston Mosque : Prayers for World Peace on Remembrance Sunday :

I was very pleased to be invited to attend the evening by the School's Headmaster Mr Chotai. I was great to see the dedicated students receive their awards. I was also Joined by Rugby players Henry Paul  and  Chris Melling  in presenting the prizes.  

A huge elephant skull from the Natural History Museum goes on display today in a Henry Moore exhibition at Penny School Gallery, Kingston College in London.  Natural History Museum's elephant skull in Henry Moore exhibition at Penny School Gallery, Kingston College. Internationally acclaimed sculptor, Henry Moore, got inspiration from an African elephant skull and produced many large scale sculptures during his life.The exhibition at Penny School explores the objects and topics that inspired Henry Moore and displays many of his original works as well as contemporary art from Kingston College students.The elephant skull is just one of 27 million zoological specimens in the collections at the Museum, many of which are used by scientists for research, as well as to inspire visitors or artists such as Henry Moore

I was very pleased to appear in the London Bulletin Magazine for Local Government . 

Exstract Below

London Bulletin: My London by Cllr Bart Ricketts

Cllr Bart Ricketts is a Liberal Democrat councillor representing the Grove ward in Kingston upon Thames and is the borough's deputy mayor. He has been a councillor since 2002.

Q. What motivated you to enter local politics?
A. I became involved with student politics when studying at Kingston University and from there it just seemed to take off. I had always been active in the local community - with charities etc. - so it seemed natural to stand and I haven't regretted it for one moment.

Q. How long have you lived in London?
A. I was born and brought up in Worcester but moved to London 12 years ago to study at Kingston University.

Q. What's the best thing about living in London?
A. It has everything. Living in Kingston, I have the tranquillity of the riverside and the wide open spaces of Richmond Park right on my doorstep. But I also know I am only a short train journey from the centre of London. Everyone can find something to do and enjoy in London - you just have to look for it!

Q. What's the worst thing about living in London?
A. I think areas are in danger of losing any real sense of community spirit. We should, and could, care for our local areas a lot more - whether it's making sure our litter goes into the bin and not on the streets, or challenging anti-social behaviour. We need to be aware of everyone's role in making London a safe and clean place. Q. If you could change one thing about the capital, what would it be?

Q. If you could change one thing about the capital, what would it be?
A. There's too much waste! I would like to see the Mayor take a real lead on reducing excess packaging and reducing our unnecessary dependency on plastic bags. Q. When was the last time you used public transport?
A. Yesterday. I try to use public transport as much as possible but I do need my car for my job.

Q. What are the top three issues people bring to your surgery?
A. Parking, anti-social behaviour and planning issues - I imagine it's the same for a lot of councillors in London.

Q. Will the 2012 Olympics bring long-term benefits to London?
A. I think the rising costs are a big worry, and how long we are going to have to keep paying for it. Areas like Kingston have to foot the bill just as much as anyone else, but it's not clear what the long term benefits will be for our area. I am sure that the Games themselves will be a huge success but perhaps not enough thought has gone into what the long-term effect of staging them will be.

Q. What's your favourite building in London?
A. Westminster Palace.

Q. Name one London building you think should be demolished
A. I can't say there's one I would be desperate to knock down - you never know what they might build in its place.

Q. Describe yourself in three words
A. Gregarious, dedicated and busy!

Q. Which historical figure do you most admire (and why)?
A. David Lloyd George - Welsh (a bit like me), a Liberal (a bit like me), and a remarkable politician (perhaps not like me).

Q. What was the last film you saw/book you read?
A. The Simpsons.