[To receive the Mayor’s announcements]
Minutes:
1. Honorary Alderman John Davis
The Mayor was saddened to report the passing of Honorary Alderman John Lamonby Goodfellow Davis, who passed away on 29 December 2021.He had also served as Mayor of the City in 2006 - 2007.
The Mayor passed on condolences to his widow Noreen and family.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield and Councillor Wendy Thompson also paid tribute to the late Alderman John Davis.
Council stood in silent tribute to the late Honorary Alderman John Davis.
2. Christmas Card Competition
The Mayor reported he ran a competition in December for all our school students to design the mayoral Christmas Cards. Over 1000 entries were received and he was assisted in judging the winning entries by Councillor Bennett, Councillor Hardacre, Councillor Momenabadi and Simon Archer. He added the standard of entries was fantastic and the winning entries were:
Under 7’s:
• Oscar Corbett (Aged 4), Oak Meadow Primary School
• Runner-up Simran Wahid (aged 5) Perry Hall Primary School
7 to 11’s:
• Veeran Wahid (aged 9) Perry Hall Primary School
• Runner-up Zachary McCulloch (aged 11) Bilston CofE Primary School.
12 and Over:
• Karolina Wlaznik (aged 13) Thomas Telford UTC
• Runner-up Natalie Chanelle Freeman (aged 13) Moseley Park School.
The Mayor had invited all for afternoon tea and were given a small gift as thanks for taking the time to enter.
3. New Year’s Honours List
The Mayor extended congratulations to the following individuals who received royal recognition in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours:
• Clare Dickens was awarded an MBE for Services to Education and Improving Suicide Awareness.
• Helene Dearn was awarded an OBE for Services to Public Service.
• Kathryn Beale was awarded a BEM for Services to the Community.
• Louise Rhodes was awarded an MBE for Services to Education and People with Hearing Impairments.
The Mayor had written to Clare, Helene, Kathryn and Louise on behalf of the City Council to extend the Council’s sincere congratulations.
4. For the Love of Fostering Awards
The Mayor reported he attended For the Love of Fostering Awards on Thursday 2 December 2021, at which the City of Wolverhampton Council officially thanked dozens of dedicated foster carers for the vital work they do looking after vulnerable children and young people in the city.
5. Holocaust Memorial Day
The Mayor reported Holocaust Memorial Day would take place on 27 January to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp by the Red Army in 1945. It was now a day of Remembrance for all victims of genocide wherever in the world the atrocities were committed. The Mayor would be attending a ceremony at the Cenotaph tomorrow morning to lay a wreath on behalf of the Council.
6. Wolverhampton Food Banks Get-Together
The Mayor reported it was a great privilege to visit several of the food banks currently operating in the City, to see first-hand the excellent work to assist our most vulnerable residents carried out by these volunteer organisations. The Mayor invited representatives from the food banks for an afternoon tea in the City Suite on Friday 3 December 2021 to thank them for their sterling work.
7. Quiz Night in aid of the Mayoral Charity Trust
The Mayor reported due to a late change in Covid-19 restrictions, the last Charity Quiz night had to be cancelled and has been re-arranged for the evening of Thursday 3 March in the City Suite. There were fantastic prizes to be won and encouraged all to enter.
8. British Art Show 9
The Mayor reported the British Art Show 9 (BAS9) was being hosted by Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the University of Wolverhampton Art School from Saturday 22 January to Sunday 10 April, providing a major boost to the recognition of arts and culture in Wolverhampton – the first English City to host the 9th edition of the show. The Mayor was delighted to attend the opening night last Friday and encouraged everyone to visit this exhibition and help to make it the great success.
9. India Republic Day
The Mayor passed best wishes on to the Indian community in Wolverhampton and to our twin city of Shimla on this India Republic Day. Wolverhampton Council had been honoured by the Indian Consulate in Birmingham to join in marking this important day with invites sent to several councillors, with Councillor Udey Singh and others representing the city.