May 2003 Newsletter
Picture Library

SPECIAL FEATURE

Civic Visit to Edinburgh Spring 2003
Reception at the City Chambers
Civic Dinner given by the Lord Provost
Scone Palace
The Palace of Holyrood House
Edinburgh Castle
HMY BRITANNIA
Easter Sunday Lunch
Easter Parade
A Traditional Scottish Ceilidh


May News

Silver Jubilee Celebration for London’s Town Crier
MAYOR OF HARROW’S CIVIC BANQUET 2003
Look Behind You! The Annual Redbridge Pantomime
Lord Chamberlain Attends Annual Dinner
London Mayors’ Walk to Mansion House
Annual Inter-Borough Small Bore Rifle Shooting Competition
Obituary: Michael Jones Mayor of Richmond 1999-2000

SPECIAL FEATURE
Civic Visit to Edinburgh Spring 2003
The London Mayors’ Association have visited a different European Capital City over each of the last seven years. In 1995 it was Paris which was followed by Berlin, Berne, Warsaw, the Hague and then Oslo. This time, visas in hand, the London Mayors’ Association went north of the border to Edinburgh. Timed to coincide with the first Edinburgh Easter Festival, organised by Bob Bone who has successfully run the London Parade for 17 years. The weather was fantastic for the four days we stayed in the Capital City of our sister nation Scotland.

Fifty members of the London Mayors’ Association including nine incumbent Mayors made this the largest of our Civic visits. Most of the members travelled by plane from Heathrow Airport, whilst several made their own way to Edinburgh. Collected at Edinburgh Airport by a luxury coach we were transported to our five star hotel in the City Centre, the famous Caledonian Hotel on Princes Street.

Four days of exciting visits, formal dinners and an opportunity to explore this historic City in glorious sunshine, made this one of the best Civic Visits ever undertaken by the London Mayors’ Association.

Special thanks go to our Executive Chairman Councillor Robert Davis who orchestrated the arrangements so superbly as well as to Bob Bone for making all the arrangements together with Bob’s assistants Theresa Davis and Malcolm Chalk. In addition thanks go to Simon Williams who spent the four days accompanying us.
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Reception at the City Chambers

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Rt Hon. Eric Milligan, together with his wife Janice, the Lady Provost, hosted a reception for the London Mayors’ Association in the City Chambers.

After welcoming the guests with an amusing speech, the Lord Provost gave a detailed explanation of the wonderful paintings in the City Chambers. Our Executive Chairman, Cllr Robert Davis responded on behalf of the London Mayors’ Association and thanked the Lord Provost for his hospitality.

We were also joined by leading members of Edinburgh City Council and given a tour of the Council Chamber and Committee Rooms at City Chambers.
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Civic Dinner given by the Lord Provost

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, hosted a Civic Dinner for the London Mayors’ Association which was also attended by leading members of Edinburgh City Council. During the meal, the haggis was traditionally piped in and the Lord Provost addressed the haggis in the “Rabbie Burns” fashion to the amusement of the guests. After dinner, the Lord Provost proposed a toast to the London Mayors’ Association and in response, the Lord Mayor of Westminster toasted the City of Edinburgh. Thereafter, each of the Boroughs attending, presented the Lord Provost with a gift.
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Scone Palace

The Provost of Perth & Kinross, Cllr Mike O’Malley, was on hand to greet the London Mayors’ Association on its visit to Scone Palace situated just outside of Perth.

Poised above the River Tay, the Grampian mountains form a distant backdrop, and across the river stands the city of Perth.
Currently it is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, but fifteen hundred years ago, it was the capital of the Pictish kingdom and the centre of the ancient Celtic church. In the intervening centuries, it has been the seat of Parliaments and the crowning place of Kings. It has housed the Stone of Destiny and been immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

After a tour of the sumptuous apartments, members were entertained to morning coffee and had the opportunity to chat with the Provost.
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The Palace of Holyrood House

Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh is The Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyrood House is closely associated with Scotland’s turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyrood House the premier royal residence in Scotland. Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining.

Mary, Queen of Scots married two of her husbands in the adjoining Abbey. Her private secretary David Rizzio was murdered in her personal rooms by a group led by her husband Lord Darnley, who believed she was having an affair with Rizzio. Members were given an opportunity to visit the room were Mary lived and where Rizzio was killed. A tour of the Palace included the State Apartments, the ruins of the Abbey and the beautiful gardens. Members also spent time (and money) in the Palace shop.
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Edinburgh Castle

Early on the morning of Easter Sunday, the London Mayors’ Association toured the historic landmark, Edinburgh Castle. The home of Mary, Queen of Scots, Edinburgh Castle dominates the City of Edinburgh like no other castle in the whole of the British Isles. Edinburgh Castle is where the early inhabitants of the Edinburgh area made their first settlements. In troubled times past man always sought a safe refuge and the volcanic rock afforded the ultimate defensive position. Edinburgh grew out from the castle rock and the first houses were built on the area which is now called the Lawnmarket.

In July 1565 Mary Queen of Scots married her first cousin and second husband, Henry, Lord Darnley. Almost a year later on 19 June 1566, she gave birth to their child, Prince James in Edinburgh Castle. Princes James later became King James VI of Scotland and 400 years ago exactly, King James I of England. The tour of the castle included seeing the Scottish Crown Jewels, the coronation Stone of Scone as well as the living quarters of Mary Queen of Scots.
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HMY BRITANNIA

The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the world’s most famous ships. Launched in 1953, the Royal Yacht proudly served Queen and country for forty-four years. During that time Britannia carried The Queen and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages.
On 11 December 1997 Britannia was decommissioned at Portsmouth Naval Base in the presence of The Queen and senior members of The Royal Family. She is now owned by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. Britannia is now permanently moored in Edinburgh’s historic port of Leith, where the London Mayors’ Association were given a private and exclusive champagne reception and allowed to tour the ship.

With the assistance of handheld tape machines, the history of the Yacht was brought to life and we were able to see the entire ship from Her Majesty’s bedroom to the crews bar and the Yacht’s laundry.

Members where all given a gift on disembarking, a silver wine coaster with the Royal Yacht’s coat of arms and inscribed:- “LMA - Easter 2003”. A very special memento of a very enjoyable visit.
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Easter Sunday Lunch

Prior to watching the Edinburgh Easter Festival, members of the London Mayors’ Association were entertained at a luncheon party at the Castle Suite of the Caledonian Hotel where we were joined by the Lord & Lady Provost and members of Edinburgh City Council.
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Easter Parade

The afternoon of Easter Sunday saw the first ever Edinburgh Easter Festival, organised by Bob Bone and the same team that have so successfully organised the London Parade on New Years Day over the last 17 years. The Lord & Lady Provost followed by the Lord Mayor of Westminster and her Consort, toured the centre of Edinburgh in open state landau’s before arriving at the VIP grandstand where members were awaiting the start of the Parade.

A number of American marching bands had flown over from all parts of the United States and each performed in front of the grandstand. They were joined by a group of dancers from the South of France as well as a strange but enjoyable dance group (in wooden masks and black costumes) from Scandinavia. The Parade would not have been complete without a number of groups of cheer leaders who were British but trained over three days by American Cheer Leader experts and who performed brilliantly.
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A Traditional Scottish Ceilidh

On our final night in Scotland we were invited to a traditional Scottish Ceilidh. A Ceilidh (being pronounced ‘kaylee’) is a riotous and eclectic variation of a folk or barn dance but with all the traditional trappings of a Scottish Banquet including the piping in of the haggis and a variety of Scottish entertainment. Dressing up for the occasion in kilt and accessories were Cllr Bryan Collier, past Mayor and the escort to the Civic Ambassador of Newham and the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Peter Gardner.
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May News



Silver Jubilee Celebration for London’s Town Crier

In April 2003, Peter Moore celebrated 25 years as London’s Town Crier. It has taken him to such places as India, United States of America, Russia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

His motto being, “Have bell will travel”. Peter leads a very diverse life, one moment he is leading a parade, the next, he can be seen around London at various locations, whether it be Tower Hill or Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square or Piccadilly Circus, welcoming Tourists to London.

But more importantly, Peter has served many of the London Boroughs and their Mayors as Town Crier. Peter is Town Crier to the Mayor of London as well as Official Town Crier for the London Boroughs of Ealing, Haringey, Merton and Tower Hamlets. Whilst in the London Borough of Southwark, Peter is Town Crier, Toastmaster and Deputy Mace Bearer, as well as Beadle to the Court Leet and Guildable Manor of the City of London and the Borough of Southwark.

A great supporter of the London Mayors’ Association and a friend and adviser to so many Mayors (present and past), we the London Mayors’ Association, salute Peter on his 25 years of loyal service to London and the Mayoralty in London.
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MAYOR OF HARROW’S CIVIC BANQUET 2003

By Cllr John Branch Mayor of Harrow 2002-2003

On April 5th 2003 it was a great privilege to hold my Civic Banquet in the Officers’ Mess at Royal Air Force Bentley Priory. Guests were greeted by a Guard of Honour formed by the Air Cadets from Harrow. Drinks were served before the guests moved into the Mess for a superb candle lit dinner. During Dinner we were beautifully entertained by a string group from the celebrated Harrow Young Musicians.

After Dinner speeches and toasts were exchanged by myself, Anna Raeburn, my Guest of Honour and the Deputy Mayor from our Twin Town of Douai in Northern France. It was indeed a highlight of my year in office.
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Look Behind You! The Annual Redbridge Pantomime

Once again, the Mayor of Redbridge entertained the Mayors of the London Borough to supper followed by a performance of the Redbridge Christmas Panto which this year was “Jack in the Beanstalk”. After the jelly and ice cream the Mayors joined the cast on stage for a group photo.
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Lord Chamberlain Attends Annual Dinner

The Lord Chamberlain, the Rt Hon. the Lord Luce GCVO DL was the guest of honour at the 2003 Annual Dinner in March. Proposing the toast to the London Mayors’ Association the Lord Chamberlain spoke of the tremendous success of the Golden Jubilee Year and the pleasure The Queen felt from the warm reception she received from visiting all parts of London, often accompanied by the Mayors of the London Boroughs. The Lord Chamberlain went on to suggest that the Mayors of the London Boroughs may wish to extend an invitation to Her Majesty The Queen to pay a visit to their Boroughs, following the success of such visits during her Golden Jubilee tours.

The Dinner was a great success with many of those attending commenting that the food was the best we had enjoyed for many years. Members were heralded into Dinner by two Trumpeters from Her Majesty’s Household Cavalry and Dinner was accompanied by the Band of the Blues and Royals. The room was decorated with thousands of blue green and white balloons which were sponsored by Bob Bone and the London Parade Festival.

After Dinner and speeches from the Lord Chamberlain; Cllr Robert Davis, the Executive Chairman and the Lord Mayor of Westminster, guests were entertained by singers from the Kenneth More Theatre from Ilford.
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London Mayors’ Walk to Mansion House

Alderman Gavyn Arthur, the Lord Mayor of London accompanied by the Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor of Westminster led over half of the London Mayors in the traditional charity walk from Highgate Hill to Mansion House, following in the footsteps of Dick Whittington and his little black cat.

The Mayors were welcomed with morning coffee and breakfast at the Whittington Hospital. Dr Michael Abrams the Chairman of the Hospital Trust welcomed everyone to the Hospital. Dr Abrams had accompanied the Mayors on their Annual Walk for the last six years as Trust Chairman but this was his last year before retiring as Chairman and so Dr Abrams presented a painting of the Hospital to the Lord Mayor of London.

The five mile walk was accomplished in good time and in sunshine. After a brief stop for mid morning coffee at Highbury Corner, the Mayor of Islington formally handed over responsibility for “law and order” to the Lord Mayor of London at Moorgate and the participating walkers eventually arrived at Mansion House to enjoy a well deserved reception.

All the Mayors were then presented with certificates commemorating their achievement.

Thanks go to Graham and Margaret Holland who again organised the event superbly.
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Annual Inter-Borough Small Bore Rifle Shooting Competition

The Annual Inter Borough Small Bore Rifle Shoot took place in April at Ham & Petersham and was won again for the second year in a row by the London Borough of Brent. The London Borough of Croydon came second after a tie-breaker with Hillingdon.

The winning trophy and plaques were presented by the Mayors of Wandsworth and Richmond both of whom made impressive and encouraging speeches.

Thanks go to Ham & Petersham Rifle Club for hosting the event and to our member Major Gerry Harsant (former Mayor of Harrow) for organising the competition so efficiently.
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Michael Jones Mayor of Richmond 1999-2000

It is with regret that we must advise members that Michael Jones, Mayor of Richmond 1999-2000 sadly passed away in May. He had been an excellent Mayor of Richmond and an active member of the London Mayors’ Association Executive Committee as well as having served dutifully as a Richmond Councillor. He will be sadly missed. Condolences have been sent to his widow Brenda and Members attended his Funeral.
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