The Charter Mayor will report on her activities.
Minutes:
The Mayor reported on her activities since the last meeting of the Charter Trustees on 26 October 2020.
The Mayor reported that she had continued her role as Mayor by supporting local charities and residents. She explained that most if not all of the meetings she attended were held via Skype and Zoom, including as the current President of ChestHelp.
The Charter Trustees were advised that on Sunday 8 November a scaled back Remembrance Sunday Service was held an hour earlier than usual at the War Memorial and in attendance was the Mayor accompanied by the Chief Executive Graham Farrant, the Champion for the Armed Forces Councillor Dave Kelsey, the British Legion Flag Bearer and the Bugler. The Mayor explained that this was far from the usual Ceremony of respect by Charter Trustees, the Local Cadets, Armed Forces and dignitaries and she hoped that we would be able to return to a normal situation soon. The Charter Trustees were advised that in addition a wreath was laid in the Lower Gardens in memory of HMS Phoebe Bournemouth’s adopted warship during World War II. The Mayor report that a wreath was laid at the Crescent in memory of the Metropole raid that resulted in the greatest loss of life the town was to suffer at any time in its history over 130 civilians and allied military personnel were lost. On 11 November Armistice Day was held again scaled back with the same attendees at 11.00 am.
On 12 November the Mayor joined her Chaplain Rabbi Maurice Michaels from the Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, with Reverend Dr Ian Terry of St Peter’s Parish Church – the Civic Church and Imam Majid Yasin of the
Islamic Centre and Mosque for an interfaith Community Meeting, the purpose was particularly to make sure that Bournemouth residents were being supported during the Coronavirus Pandemic. It was reported that each of the Faith Leaders with their congregations were contacting their congregants and others with friendship and support.
The Mayor reported that she had attended various team meetings with Democratic Services and the Civic Team. On 24 November she was invited to attend a Zoom meeting with Brigadier Graeme Jock Fraser MBE ADC Royal Marines, the Naval Regional Commander of Wales and Western England.
The Mayor highlighted that last year she had attended the Bournemouth School for Girls Founders Day. However, this year she had been asked to provide a video message. The Mayor advised that she was asked to turn on the Christmas lights in Southbourne and had received an invite from Reverend Ian Terry to read a lesson on Christmas Eve unfortunately both had to be declined. The Mayor also highlight the Budget Workshop held in December 2020.
The Mayor reported on the Holocaust Memorial Day, be a light in the darkness, which she reported was attended by over 260 and referred to the speakers who recounted moving stories. She thanked Lynda Ford-Horne for arranging the event.
The Mayor thanked the National Health Service especially frontline services in Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals, the staff rolling out the vaccines, all of the carers and social workers, all shop workers, bin operatives and many more including the Police Force who have been providing high visibility patrols to support national health colleagues and members of the public attending to be given their vaccines, at supermarkets and within the community.