Diary

MAY 2000

The mayoral year started for me on 17^th May 2000 with the Annual Statutory meeting.  This is where the Mayor is voted in and the functions of the Council for the coming year, such as committee membership and terms of reference etc., are agreed.  After the election, I re-entered the Council Chamber dressed in the Robes and Chain of office.  I set out my theme for the coming year, which was to highlight the cultural and social events available in Camden and read and signed the formal affirmation of acceptance of the mayorship.  I didn’t feel very nervous at the time, but could hardly write my name, so there were more butterflies in my stomach than I thought! 

Although the meeting has a formal format, it was punctuated with lighthearted speeches of proposal (with plenty of jovial comments thrown in) and well earned tributes were given to the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Roy Shaw,  who spoke about his year in office and Cllr Roger Robinson was appointed as deputy mayor.  Choral music was also scattered through the formal procedures.  This was provided by a number of friends from ‘Sing for Pleasure’ and was much apreciated by all.

After the formalities everybody moved down to the Camden Centre for a splendid party.  I spent the whole evening moving around trying to speak to all the guests.  It was so good to be able to see so many people, friends, family and others with close associations with the borough.  By the end of the evening I was pretty exhausted and so hot under the robes that my face was about the same shade of scarlat!

Engagements started from day one, so there was no sitting back to catch my breath.  A cocktail party given by the University of London Officers Training Corps was closely followed the next morning by my first real exposure to public life.  The grand re-opening of the Grade II listed public lavatories on South End Green!  What a start.  My cousin’s little boy, who was with me that day, couldn’t quite understand what so many people were doing in a loo taking pictures, especially as it was the Gents!! 

The rest of the month included meeting scouts going off on a canal cruise, a visit to a local day centre for people with Alzheimers, a stunning dinner at the Mansion House with the Lord Mayor of London (and about 300 other people in local governemnt including the leader, Jane Roberts and Chief Executive, Steve Bundred) and meeting young people taking part in an anti-drug project on a day out at Arsenal football stadium.  We held my first reception in the Mayor’s Parlour for qualified refugees settled in this country taking part in a re-qualifiying scheme in order to use their professional skills and experience here, I went to Fitzrovia’s open air supper (which took place in the Indian YMCA because of rain), seen the fabulous Mystery Plays in St Michaels Church Camden Town and led my team of rowers to a very damp quarter final place in our first charity event, Dragon Boat racing in Docklands.

By the time I got to the end of May, I could see what a varied and non-stop programme I was in for.