Minutes:
1. On 2 December the Mayor and Mayoress attended a fundraising dinner at Zizzis in aid of the Tuesday O’Hara Fund. Guests were invited to make a voluntary contribution towards their meal, and a raffle was also held. The event raised £1400.
2. The Mayor attended the Lark in the Park Christmas Party on 4 December. Held annually at the Winter Garden, the party organisers invite local youngsters with special needs to join them for an afternoon of fun in the run up to Christmas.
3. On 7 December the Mayor and Mayoress visited Eastbourne Rugby Club to celebrate the club’s recently awarded full RFU Accreditation. The Rugby Football Union Club Accreditation scheme aims to help all rugby clubs in England become stronger, more effective, more efficient, and more enjoyable places to play rugby.
4. The Mayor held a Christmas Concert in the Winter Garden’s Gold Room on 11 December in aid of his chosen charities. Guests were treated to a performance from RattonSchool and Voices Choirs while they enjoyed some mulled wine and mince pies.
5. The Mayor’s Charity volunteers were back in action on 14 December where they assisted ASDA shoppers with their bag packing in return for donations. They had a very busy day but earned over £500 for the Mayor’s Charities.
6. The Mayor and Mayoress took time out on Christmas Day to visit Matthew 25 Mission who were busy serving up dinners to the homeless at Christ Church, before visiting the Eastbourne Rotary Club’s Alone at Christmas event at Our Lady of Ransom Parish Centre.
7. The first Mayoral engagement of 2014 was to attend the Sussex Downs College Student Awards evening at the Grand Hotel.
8. On 15 January the Mayor’s Charity teamed up with the Chamber of Commerce for a quiz night at the Langham Hotel. The winners of the quiz were Price and Co. and the evening raised £600 for the Mayor’s Charities.
9. On 18 January the Mayor gave permission for 56th Signal Squadron Army Reserve Unit to exercise their Freedom of the Borough. The unit marched through the Town from the Pier to the Town Hall, where members of the unit past and present were then treated to refreshments. An afternoon reception followed at the TA Centre before a dinner was held in the evening at the Grand Hotel. This would be the last opportunity for the unit to exercise their Freedom, as the unit was being disbanded shortly.
10. The Mayor attended the Eastbourne Ancestors Exhibition Preview at The Pavilion on 30 January. The exhibition opened to the public on 1 February and will show significant discoveries about the history of Eastbourne and Sussex, focusing on the stories of the human remains stored within the Museum Collection. The Pavilion had opened a brand new café next to the exhibition space for drinks and snacks; and the outside decking would be open as usual in the summer months.
11. The next event in aid of the Mayor’s Charity would be a World War 2 Party at the Bomb Shelter Club (also known as the Winter Garden!) on Friday 14 March. Guests will enjoy dinner, entertainment, swing and dancing, and tickets are on sale now from the Mayor’s Office.
12. Also coming soon are a sponsored Firewalk on Friday 4 April and an Abseil on Sunday 27 April. Anyone interested in taking part should contact the Mayor’s Office.
13. The Mayor also attended a number of visiting conferences, concerts, open days and exhibitions in the last few months.