Three months into my year as Mayor now, I have continued to support a wide range of organisations, businesses, schools, and local charities.
It’s been a pleasure to have been able to take along fellow councillors with me to some of the events, to help broaden their awareness of the role of Mayor and the importance of the role to the community as a whole.
Each year Dunstable Road Runners host a Memory One Mile Run / Walk and it was my pleasure to officially start this for them on what was a very cold and wet July evening!
My deputy, Cllr Louise O’Riordan, stood in for me to cover the Anglia in Bloom judging visit and made her maiden speech at an informal lunch after they had toured the town. Results will be known in mid September.
Young people are the future for the Town and Louise attended the Scouts AGM for the Dunstable area and was inspired by what she saw and heard. I have been able to continue my support and keen watch on the development of the new 4th Scout group hut in Jeans Way. Progress can be seen now, and they are currently cladding the external brick work.
Each year the Town Council holds a big lunch for a group of elderly residents. With limited tickets available this year there was a large waiting list. I was able to negotiate with the head teacher at Queensbury for an opportunity for the catering students to put on an afternoon tea for a group of 35 residents from the waiting list. They were given a wonderful selection of savouries and sweet foods, and were entertained by pianist, choir, and school band for the afternoon.
I was invited to attend the leavers assembly for Larkrise Academy- what a fabulous display of talent and wonderful memories for those students moving onto secondary school in September.
The University of Bedfordshire hold graduation services throughout the summer and local civic leaders were invited to attend one that also co-included with the installation of their new Chancellor. A lovely afternoon recognising the success of students.
Not many businesses reach the 60th anniversary milestone but Stoten and Gillam did just that. Louise attended this celebratory afternoon event and was able to network with local business owners and partners.
Dunstable Town Cricket Club host an annual Presidents Day and I was invited to attend. It was good to see the ongoing works at the Cricket Club to create a vibrant community facility that can be used for multiple events.
A Dementia Awareness event was a huge success and provided great opportunity for patients of West Street Surgery to reach out to organisations present and to learn more. Further events by other surgeries are planned.
I held my first very successful fundraiser in Grove House. Over 50 people came to support my Coffee Morning and helped to raise in excess of £725 for my charities.
My next event on the 18 August is a sell out with 80 quizzers signed up to a challenging night !
Whilst we’ve not had the best of summer weather, we have been lucky with most of our events, so far. Love Parks Week finished with a Community Rock n Roll event in Priory Gardens which was well attended and provided fantastic entertainment.
In the coming weeks we have
- Priory Pictures 12 August
- Ashton Square Day 19 August
- Last Night of the Proms 9 September
Please do keep an eye on the Town Councils social media pages for the latest on timings and locations for all the events.
As we approach the autumn period, my diary will be getting booked in with events for the festive period. I’m looking forward to the challenges that come with it and will once again not be accepting mince pies until Christmas Eve!
If you would like to invite the Mayor to an event please email democratic@dunstable.gov.uk
