The Diary for June

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June 1st Friday Josephine returned back home from her last appointment. We normally eat out on this night and we chose the Indian Restaurant in town this time. As usual a wonderful meal and service. After that we went to the Royal Lion to finish off the evening met some friends and spent the rest of the evening with them.

June 2nd Saturday Went to the Marine Theatre in the morning . The meeting was called VOLUNTEERS FOR LYME. Organised by the Marine Theatre,Town Mill and the Museum who have an immediate and on-going need for extra volunteers to help in three vital areas. It is something that I strongly support with all the many people who attended. John Bartholomew.
Marine Theatre,Godfrey Thomas Town Mill ,Ken Gollop Museum and Oliver Letwin our local MP also supported the project and all spoke very strongly in its favour.

The coffee and bits were also excellent!

Please help if you can we are so fortunate to have such organisations in the town

Nice to meet old friends once again and hear one or two sing.

In the afternoon I went to watch the annual football match with the French side Cruelly that they play every year. A good match unfortunately the visitors won. In the evening they are all dining at the Bye the Bay restaurant I would not like to bet on who is going to win that one.! I was given the privilege of starting the game by kicking off from the centre circle. I was pleased I actually hit the ball and it moved . The old left foot still knows what to do! You see what football lost all those years ago. Comments to the Sun please. Report of the match and evening will no doubt be in the Local Press.

June 5th Tuesday I went to London all day to attend a meeting of the National Association of Local Councils. This was for a meeting of the National Executive of which I am a member being Chairman of the Policy committee . I am also the representative of NALC on the Government committee looking into the state of the country's churchyards and future burial laws. Details are available on the web and also I have put in small report to Council for guidance in the case of people who want to know more.

June 3rd Sunday Having just had our small garden revamped it was to the nursery we must go .At least it was a start and is already starting to look like a magazine cover. Progress will be reported! Designed by Jonathan Whetlor Planted by Josephine Whetlor

and sat in by Kenneth Whetlor !

June 10th Sunday I attended St Michaels Church Lyme Regis at the annual service for the Council and the towns people. You see me here on the left talking to our Legion President Cecil Quick.Natalie Spiller sang the solo verse during communion with great aplomb and the Town Band gave there usual solid performance to accompany the hymns. I was also impressed with the choir nice to hear them . Our vicar must take a lot of credit for the organisation on this morning .Some chap played the organ it was my impression that with a bit more practice he might do well . What do I know ! By the way trust the renovations go well John I will see you on Saturday 30th June Josephine will be there if she is home. Sorry about the picture some one keeping me in the dark again ? Do we know who ?

A year to the day in the life of a former Mayor of Lyme Regis

As I walked to catch the 6.35 bus to Dorchester this morning I reflected in what was going to happen to me doing the course of this day. I new why I was going to Bournemouth to have treatment for my eye and hopefully coming home but what else was in the mix. This is my short story of the event full day.
I got on bus and was told that it only goes to Bridport I will have to change there. No problem arrived Dorchester South to be told that there was a train delay a lorry had hit a bridge at Upwey and had to be inspected before trains could move. 30 mins later the train arrived and I arrived at Bournemouth. Got on the bus to the hospital and was amazingly on time for my appointment. About 10.30 I met the consultant and during the laser treatment the consultant said that he was not happy with the progress and suggested that he took me into the operating theatre after lunch for a more detailed treatment. This I agreed so at 14.00 approx I found myself in the theatre and after the usual ritual of talking to the male nurse the anaesthetist, someone who was having a preview and the consultant we got underway . The eye was anesthetized , my other eye covered up and the proceedings started. The laser was clicking away ,talking was going on and I had no pain a strange feeling. About 20min later I was wheeled back into the day patients room and given a very welcome cup of tea and a sandwich of my choosing.I had decided to make my way home although if you don't feel to good the Hospital would have given me a bed for the night.I have nothing but praise for the Eye Unit in Bournemouth Hospital, I have been treated very well and will be revisiting them in four week time for I hope my final operation on my eye. You need to know from the entrance to the Hospital to the eye unit is approx one third of mile.They have a buggy run by volunteers to take patients and visitors if they cannot walk to parts of the hospital an amazing service. So an hour later with one eye covered and looking like someone from the blitz I started on my way home getting the bus to Bournemouth station and the train to Dorchester South that was uneventful.In fact it looked better with one eye!The bus was 40mins late arriving at the station but at least it arrived. Just as we left Dorchester a high pitch wining started in the bus ,just what I needed and continued to Bridport.This meant a change of bus again and we were on the way to Lyme.I had a taxi waiting for me by the bus stop at Anning road and the the time was 7.00pm exactly. My thoughts went back to a year ago to the day when at that time the proceedings started to make me the Mayor of Lyme Regis and give Josephine and I a wonderful 2007. What a day !

The Diary for May 2007

May3rd Election day. A good turn out something like 47% voted from the electoral register. My son Jonathan emigrated to Australia to get married and start a new life there . I took him to Gatwick and wished him and Elizabeth well for the years ahead. For me it was an emotional parting .

May4th/5th/6th As Mayor with Mary Anning present I opened the Fossil Festival in Lyme Regis.It was open for three days a huge success and hopefully will be in the years to come . On the 6th was also the town fete, as Mayor I opened that with the Junior town band, the majorettes and many stalls. A good day was had by all .

May5th Presented a pennant to the Commodore of the Lyme Regis sailing club from the sailing club of Bermuda.
May7th As Mayor I started the Duck Race as always it was very well supported I did not know it then but it was to be my last duty as Mayor of Lyme Regis .
May9th attended Bournemouth eye hospital and given the news that I had to have two more eye operations and given two dates for them. One on the 24th May and the other on the 21st June. I am sure most of you will understand the significances of these dates? I was not offered one more year as Mayor but would not have taken it if it had been offered. But it would have been nice to have had the chance of refusal if I had wanted to . ! In talking to the consultant it was obvious that something had to be done sooner rather than later.
May14th attended the AGM of the Twinning Association .
May16th attended Lyme Regis Area Partnership meeting (Lyme Forward)
May 17th/18th I went to Birmingham for a two day meeting with representatives from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
With the changes in Local Government it is essential that organisations change with it and have an understanding of the situation this obviously includes the Councils and local organisations. The new planning regulations are a perfect example. Unfortunately due to this meeting I was unable to attend two Council meetings.



May21st Royal British Legion Quiz night. A night organised by David Manners and committee members. I presented the prizes at the end of the quiz on this very enjoyable evening. I am sure there will be another later in the year following the success of this one. Once again my sincere thank you to all for your support of the Royal British Legion Enjoy the Pics

The quiz master.The winners and the losers ? Sorry there were no losers everyone had a great time


May 23rd Attended LRTC Policy meeting

May 24th I had a small eye operation at the Bournemouth eye hospital. You can read about that in my article about that day .

The past Mayor wishes to thank all the towns people and others from far and wide for making for us such a wonderful year in partnership with you .

The Mayor amd Mayoress would like to sincerely thank the Towns people who supported Josephine and I for there wonderful support over the past year. Special thank you to our Town Crier Phil Street for his support I am sure that he enjoyed the year as much as I did. I felt that josephine, I and Phil were a team and we were priviledged to be part of it. All the Town Hall staff were magnificent especially Pat Stamp the Mayors Secretary who never yawned once when I am sure she wanted to . The Town Clerk for his special guidance when needed , Natalie for her enthusiasm and Chris the financial side. I will be making another statement in due course on the past year and the future

Lyme Regis Twinning to Bermuda

BERMUDA 2007

The entrance to the Town of St Georges,The George Somers Statue and The Mayor of Bermuda,Lyme Regis Town Crier and the Mayor of Lyme Regis Bermuda Twinning Trip 2007

April 18th Wednesday The Mayoress and I arrived in Bermuda for a few days break before the Twinning party arrived which they do on Sunday 22nd May Josephine and I with the Mayor of Bermuda met the party at the airport to make sure all was ok and they got to their host for the week.
But the before I go on to tell you about the trip I must tell you the story of Donna the lady who was and is sailing round the world. To give you more information here is her web site and blog please read it she is one remarkable lady. Donna had encountered 40 ft waves and had lost her auto steering some 100 miles from Bermuda and was having to steer her boat herself. She was in trouble and assistance was sent as she neared Bermuda. She was given help by mine host, slept all day and told her story to us. Below is the boat and the Lady
April 19th Thursday Spent the day relaxing in St Georges a trip to Dockyard and visiting the Bank of Bermuda who looked after the Mayor and Mayoress chains while we there.
April 20th Friday am Met Donna on the boat and had pictures taken. Went to the Heritage Centre pm Went to Nature reserve (Spittles) and John Smith Bay.
April 21st Saturday am Went to our favourite beach Tobacco Bay and in the evening went to the sailing club for a fish & chip dinner with our host and family about 100 people were there a great social evening. Donna played the guitar and Irish flute. She was getting well after her ordeal.
April 22nd Sunday am Attended the Salvation Army church in St Georges. Had lunch at the Somers restaurant and met the twinning party at the airport in the evening
April 23rd Monday am Went to Mulligans for breakfast as usual it was very filling. In evening went to the Rotary dinner enjoyable evening with a speaker on the caves of Bermuda. Donna has flown home to Canada for a week and reception party.

April 24th Tuesday Twinning dinner in the evening at Somers Restaurant in the open air. Pipers made an entrance kilts and all and Jackie sang. Wonderful evening Cutting of the 10th anniversary cake by Mayor of Bermuda and Mayor of Lyme Regis and the Chairman of the TwinningAssociation

April 25th WednesdayPeppercorn day. Fine parade theTown Crier and I went up to the dais with the dignitaries and met the Governor of Bermuda. Afterwards everyone went to the garden party
April 26th Thursday Darts Match by web cam from the Nags Head Lyme Regis to the sailing boat club in St Georges Bermuda Lyme Regis won 3 nil and still have the cup! I presented them a Lyme Regis Pennant and they gave me a pennant to bring to the sailing club in Lyme Regis. This is always a night not to miss and we are made very welcome as always. The suppers they have for us are amazing you look at it and always want to be hungry! Receiving the winning cup for the lads in Lyme Regis for winning again ! sorry Bermuda . I know you will reading this blog Here I am receiving the Bermuda sailing club pennant to take back to Lyme Regis from the the Commodore Andre Shearer.

April 27th Friday Phil Street and Dawn Josephine and myself visited the Botanical garden at the invitation of the Park superintendent. We went there to get advice for the planting of a Bermudian garden in our gardens. After showing us around he then drove us to the Governors residence and the Premiers residence sight seeing. In the evening took Phil and Dawn to dinner at a place called swizzles a place not to be missed. Remember the ice cream Dawn ?
April28th Saturday went to Hamilton with Bernard and Josephine and the lovable Dotte I think the two clowns either side make a formidable trio ?

Earlier on in my blog i said that I had taken a pennant from the Lyme Regis sailing club to be presented to the Commodore of the Bermuda club. As Mayor for the past year it also gave me the honour of being The President of the Twinning Association for the past year . In that capacity I accepted a pennant from the Commodore of the Bermuda sailing club and made the reciprocal presentation to Lyme Regis . I do hope that this will begin a bonding between the to clubs in the years to come .

Ken and Dawn eating ice cream

Beautiful Tobacco Bay and the Anniversary cake a great effort. Jo at Eastern Beach. Our Hosts Lily and Bernard and Donna. And three ....relaxing after a some what delightful meal with the photographer Josephine . The new Gallery being built in the Botanical gardens .Some of the flowers grown there . Phil Street Dawn Josephine and myself outside the Premiers house A view from our hosts accommodation and also out with them for a meal in the evening .

On your right you will see the Bermuda sailing club across the bay in St Georges. Below a boat that arrived in St Georges with its rigging torn to pieces in an Atlantic storm

Its been a long evening

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The two pictures below are three of the twinning party relaxing at Tobago bay mid there heavy schedule of visits in Bermuda