Dear Reader,
Having started my Mayoral year in May 2019, I was incredibly honoured to have had the opportunity to meet so many volunteers and silent heroes in our Borough – many of whom reside in or support Chertsey. The year took a rather unexpected turn during March 2020 and the impact of COVID-19 meant that many events and fundraisers began to cancel. My Mayoress, Davinder, and I, were so lucky to have squeezed our annual Charity Ball in during mid-March prior to lockdown.
During my year, to name a few events, I was delighted to have attended the Black Cherry Fair, Christmas Goose Fair, Agricultural Show and the Memorial Service in Chertsey. This town has gone above and beyond to hold fantastic events. We were met warmly by members of the community and we had a great time getting to know people who give so freely of their skills and time to make our community better for others. Davinder and I have also enjoyed visiting Chertsey Museum, which includes the finest collections of history in Runnymede, it is a real gem in our Borough.
Shortly after facing lockdown, Councillors cross-party stepped in to support the Runnymede Foodbank. We ran a few campaigns to appeal for donations from residents to support the Foodbank to purchase food and essentials for vulnerable residents. Councillors drove forward a change to shift the Foodbank site to a new warehouse location which offered much more space for social distancing and meant that the service could continue during that unprecedented time. Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) made an agile move to support calling vulnerable residents and taking calls from those who needed help. I am amazed at the work carried out by local Councillors, RBC Officers and the vast number of volunteers who offered their time to support our local community.
It is quite unusual for the Mayoral reigns to not be handed over at the end of the municipal year. It had been decided between myself and Deputy Mayor Cllr Elaine Gill, that I would continue until the October Full Council meeting. I am extremely excited to welcome Cllr Gill as Mayor in October and I am confident that she will do a fantastic job and hope that she has an enjoyable year and a half.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, Davinder and I are delighted to have raised over £28,000 for our three charities: 1st Virginia Water Scouts, Combat Stress and Sight for Surrey. I hope that the funds raised will support the fantastic work these organisations do for our community.
Finally, I would like to send my deepest thanks to everyone for their kindness and generosity. There has been a huge sense of community and caring during the pandemic and your support has stood out to all.
Best wishes,
Cllr Parshotam Sohi, Mayor of Runnymede