Bridport Mayor Making Ceremony – 7 May

My journey started today when I took over the reins from Anne Rickard who has done a fabulous job for the past 2 years. She certainly will be a hard act to follow. The ‘Ceremony’ went well and will always be something that I look back on with fond memories.  It was lovely to have so many fellow councillors, council staff, family, friends & supporters there to share the occasion.  It meant a great deal to see everyone together and enjoying the evening.

A lot of hard work went into organising the event and I am very grateful to everyone who helped make it such a memorable occasion.  So many people played a part in making the evening such a success and it was quite a moment getting to wear the traditional mayoral robes, and the lovely mayoral chain for the first time.  It certainly made the occasion feel very real & reminded me of the honour & responsibility of the role.

Afterwards everyone enjoyed a lovely buffet and drinks, which gave people the chance to relax and chat together in a warm & friendly atmosphere.

Photo taken by Bridport Camera Club.

 

Friday 8^th May. – Weymouth Civic Day

At 10.00 am, Janice, the mayoress, and myself arrived at the Nothe Car Park where we assembled , with the other invited guests, at the Nothe Tavern for coffee / tea and an introduction.

We then all walked to the nearby ‘Centre for Environment Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, (CEFAS)’.

After an introductory talk by one of the directors, we were split in to two groups and shown all around the facility for the next two hours.  It was a lot to cram in in the time that we had but it was incredibly interesting and certainly gave us all an insight in to how our sea food all around the country is regularly tested for safety & pollution.  We had lab tours & met various staff members and Early Careers Path and Placement Students.

We then returned to the Nothe Tavern, with its Panoramic views of Weymouth, for a splendid buffet lunch.

At 1.45pm we departed the tavern and proceeded  to the Nothe Fort.  There we were welcomed by Lucy Watkins, co-manager, and after being split into smaller groups, treated to a tour of the WW2 ramparts, Nuclear Shelter and behind the scenes Caponier Tour.  This tour was so incredibly interesting but we only saw a part of this fabulous facility in the time we had.

At 3.15pm we were treated to a splendid cream tea in the fort’s restaurant.

At 4.00pm we departed our separate ways for home.

 

Sunday 10^th May  – Wimborne Minster, Mayor’s Thanksgiving service.

The Mayor of Wimborne, Jeff Hart, invited us to this lovely church to celebrate the end of his Mayoral year.

We assembled in the nearby Church Hall and paraded in to ‘The Minster Church Of St. Cuthburg.’  The building is really splendid, such  lovely condition and quite a contrast to the many other churches I attended as Deputy, that sadly, obviously due to money, require some decoration.

After the service we were treated to a re-enactment display, with black powder muskets (no lead balls) on the church green.  This group, called the Wimborne Militia, brings to life the history of the Dorset militia.  The group focus heavily on the turbulent times of the Monmouth rebellion in around 1685.  They really look splendid in their red- coated uniforms.

We then had the usual obligatory tea and cake and then left for home.

 

Saturday 16^th May  – Bridport Charter Fair

As you probably all know , this day is very special for Bridport . The fair is held annually & celebrates the granting of Bridport’s Market Charter , granted by the King over 700 years ago.  This charter recognises Bridport’s rope making history, reflects the principles of the 1998 Human Rights act, and confirms Bridport becoming the UK’s first rights Respecting Town.

There were over 40 community stalls this year and the Millenium Green expanded in to Downe Street.  There was continuous, singing, dancing and music all day .  I opened the fair at 9.30am with the Crowning of the May Queen followed by the presentation of the two prestigious awards.

 

West Dorset Singers

In the evening I was very honoured to be asked to attend a wonderful concert at the Bridport United Church.  This consisted of a 12-piece orchestra and two fabulous choirs, The West Dorset Singers and the Broadoak Choir.  There were also four special soloists.

The modern music was created by two West Dorset composers, Mathew Coleridge and Chris Reynolds and the whole performance was truly fabulous in this church with brilliant acoustics.

Friday 22^nd  May  – Houses Through Time, Book Project

Bridport Library was tonight’s venue with a special exhibition of the latest project from Sheila Meaney.

The project is called, ‘Houses Through Time’.  Sheila told us about the works of 35 authors who have all written a book about a different house in Bridport.  She herself covered the last house that she lived in, for many years, in Crock Lane.  The amount of research that went in to these pieces of history is amazing. Apart from the house itself most of the research was into who had actually lived there over the years. The books will be useful tools for future historians.

Wednesday 27^th May  – Angel Carers , New Premises & Wellbeing Space

I was asked to visit the newly refurbished ‘Angel Carers’ premises in South Street.  They have recently just moved in  & the building includes  office space, a kitchen and a marvellous  new ‘ Wellbeing -Treatment’ room .  This room has a special sensory vibrating floor which uses low-frequency vibro-acoustic stimulation & provides suitable calming music with special soothing lighting effects.

The directors , Fiona and Clare are incredibly enthusiastic and Clare has researched and designed the treatment room herself.

The photo shows Fiona Rowe on the left and Clare Park on the right in the new Treatment Room.

Saturday 30^th May – Bridport Branch RBL , Spring Party     

We had an invitation to the lovely house and grounds of Brig, John Dean and his wife at Dottery.  The occasion was the Bridport’s branch of the Royal British Legion’s,  Spring Party.  John, in the centre of the photograph, has been the R B L’s President & Parade Commander for many years.  He has now retired from his duties and handed the reins over to Brigadier, Nick Orr, the new President & Parade Commander.  I am sure that Nick will do a sterling job and thank you John for your steadfast participations.

Entertainment was provided by four-piece band ‘Hidden’ & a raffle.

 

Sunday 31^st  May – Yeovil Civic Service

We set off early to get to Yeovil by 10.00 am for The Mayor of Yeovil’s Civic Service.  We soon encountered the usual road diversions and had to detour half way around Somerset to get there, taking in such glorious sights as Ham -Hill, Montacute House and Odcombe.  The service was in fact, a Coronation of Tony Lock as Mayor of Yeovil for another term, his last he insists.

After the glorious service, with the longest sermon, by rev, James Dudley-Smith, that I have ever encountered (15 mins) we all set off to The Westland Sports & Social Club for a lovely two course dinner . As I tell everyone, the best roast dinner I have had for a year since I was last there. After thanking & bidding farewell till the next time we set off on our circuitous drive to the next venue.

St Wite’s & Dorset-Day Celebration Service

I was invited to this very special service at , St Candida and The Holy Cross Church, Whitchurch Canonicorum.

St Wite, is Dorset’s patron Saint and her holy shrine is embedded in the wall of the church at Whitchurch.

It has been a site for pilgrimage for over 1,000 years and her saints’ day is June the1st.

We duly arrived at the nearby village hall where we greeted a band of walkers that had made a pilgrimage all afternoon, through sunken lanes, from Bridport to the church . We then all proceeded to the church & had a most marvellous service in a truly special church where incidentally lies the body, in the graveyard, of Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident who was murdered near Waterloo Bridge.

Following the service, we had some welcome refreshments and then went home after an 11-hour day.