Let me introduce myself. I am Elaine Gill, the current Deputy Mayor of Runnymede Borough Council. I was due to take on the Mayoralty in May 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic this was postponed and kindly Cllr Parshotam Sohi agreed to continue for a further six months. It is hoped that I will take over the mayoral duties on 22nd October 2020. I am very grateful to the current Mayor of Runnymede, Cllr Parshotam Sohi. He will be a hard act to follow.
I have been an Independent Councillor for over sixteen years representing Thorpe Ward and I feel very privileged to have served my residents for that period of time and even more proud at the prospect of becoming Mayor until May 2022.
Both myself and my husband, Harry were looking forward to visiting many parts of the Borough to meet local residents and see communities in action, but at the moment many events will be put on hold in light of recent restrictions. Let us hope from May 2021, we can all really look forward to feeling normal again.
During the lockdown I was in self isolation for three months, but got fully involved with fellow Councillors to support the Runnymede Foodbank initiative. I also headed the Thorpe Neighbourhood Support Group to assist the vulnerable members of the community during the difficult times from March onwards. Life is returning to some normality, but there are still many hurdles to overcome for the remainder of this year and possibly into early 2021.
I had in my mind three different causes I wished to support during my Mayoral year, which involved Dementia Carers Support, Rainbow Trust for terminally ill children and also a programme of tree planting over the Borough. At the present time all these are on hold, possibly until May 2021. In the interim, if possible, with the assistance from Officers and fellow Councillors, I hope to be able to organise some “Thank You” events to those who volunteered and worked so hard through the pandemic. There are so many people to recognise from the refuse workers who continued to collect all the household waste during the lockdown to those who manned phones, delivered food parcels, etc. The list is endless.
I have lived in Thorpe village in the Borough of Runnymede since December 1981, and feel blessed to have brought up our two sons here and now have the added joy of watching our four grandchildren grow up in this locality.
I will work very hard for all residents of Runnymede during the next eighteen months.