March 19 2016.

Mayor of Newhaven, Steve Saunders, writes:


It is Palm Sunday tomorrow and I have been asked to attend the service at 10.00am at St. Michael's Church in Newhaven. The Reverend Martin Miller has extended this invitation to all Councillors.

Along with the Easter Eggstravaganza, there are plenty of Sports Relief events going on and I hope to be popping down to Sainsbury's on my bike over the weekend, to join in on the events there. I visited Seahaven Academy yesterday and joined in with Year 7s, who were taking part in a one mile cycle, walk and run event. I am going to be promoting my sponsored London to Cycle cycle event for my charities (May 11th to 15th), so if anyone feels the urge to sponsor me, I will be leaving some forms in the NTC reception.

I attended Juliet Smith, the High Sheriff's event in the week, where she gave out certificates to recognise the wonderful work done by charity and volunteer groups, together with those members of the uniformed services who have gone above and beyond. Michael Avenell of the Newhaven Lifeboat crew, received a certificate for his efforts outside his normal seaborne duties and the Seaford Lifeguards were also recognised. CATS after school clubs in Peacehaven and Dean's Tea Club in Telscombe Cliffs were also honoured in our area. I was asked to nominate a recipient and duly chose the Seahaven Responders. With your help, I was able to purchase a defibrillator ahead of the end of my Mayoral year and this was presented to Nigel Ring, who was representing the Responders. Juliet herself presented one personally at the the event at St. Margaret's Church, Ditchling, in memory of her Husband Martin. He sadly passed away in January and despite this she bravely continued with her duties as High Sheriff. Both Machines were blessed by the Reverend David Wallis, the High Sheriff's Chaplain, before being formally presented.
I purchased a print of a painting by Kristina Stedman, a local artist and presented this to her during the ceremony, to recognise her hard work and the support she has given to me and my events this year, as well as that that she has given to the community and groups in the Town of Newhaven throughout her year of office. It was the same print that the Council purchased in 2014 for the 100th birthday celebrations of Sister Agnes Marie Valois, the nun who helped so many wounded and dying on the beachesduring the Dieppe Raid of 1942.

On the way home from Ditchling, Sharon and I attended the Start Art Group at the Hillcrest, at the invitation of its organiser, Carol Havard. It's the 3rd visit this year for us and we enjoyed meeting all the children and young people, together with the adult helpers who enjoy what this wonderful club offers.

I am trying to squeeze another event into my last few weeks and Glenn Stubley at the White Hart in Newhaven has kindly agreed to host a Karaoke night on Friday April the 8th. Tom Bonnor has been equally generous and is supplying the equipment, so it just needs you to come along and support me, with as many friends as you can muster. I promise not to hog the microphone too much, and anyway, after belting out George Michael and Elton John's version of 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' a couple of times, my voice is usually gone anyway.

Thanks to all those that attended the events that my much better half Sharon and I put on recently. The Tea Dance at Hillcrest raised almost £400 and the Quiz Night last week added another £260. Jean Cantell and Margaret Banks of Studio Tempo helped out with the tea dance, along with Joan and Peter Rhodes from the Centre's Cafe, suppying the food and drink. The Newhaven Scouts helped out at the quiz and share the money raised there.

That's it for now.

Happy Easter everyone.