MAYOR'S MOMENT: Supporting our groups

The work that all the groups and organisations in our town do is truly astounding and I thank you all.

On Tuesday I found myself at the New Millennium Chamber at the Manor House for a meeting of the Littlehampton Traders Partnership, with many items being discussed it was great to see everyone’s enthusiasm for the Christmas lights switch-on this year.

At the end of the meeting the group honoured Tyndall Jones, of David O Jones, with an award for Commitment and Community Spirit – I could not agree with the group any more on Tyndall deserving this.

Going out of the main town on Wednesday I took a trip to Wick to join manager Michelle Ede, the team and shoppers at the St Barnabas House store to celebrate its 18th birthday with a jailhouse rock theme.

On approaching the store I could hear the unmistakeable lyrics of an Elvis number and was not disappointed as I walked through the doors to find the team and customers being entertained by their very own Elvis performing all the best of his hits.

The team had all joined in wearing fancy dress, decorating the store and windows with an Elvis theme and grouping Elvis books, records and alike together on displays for customers to buy – there was even a two-tiered cake with an Elvis record on top to cut celebrate the day.

Well done to all involved and keep up the good work.

Braving the winds of storm Brian on Saturday with councillor Tracey Baker as my guest, we attended the Trafalgar Day celebrations at the yacht club on the west bank, raising money for the RNLI.

On entering we were immediately made to feel welcome and the venue was laid out beautifully with Union Jacks adorning the tables and a portrait of Lord Horatio Nelson presiding over the festivities.

During the evening we enjoyed a four-course meal all themed to the occasion, the menu based on late 18th/19th century seafaring recipes with a modern twist to suit 21st century tastes, included a very delectable serving of beef Wellington and scrumptious serving of spotted dog.

The port was flowing for toasting and all were obviously thoroughly enjoying the occasion.

Entertainment was provided by Shoreham rogues the Wellington Wailers who performed a mixture of traditional sea shanties, as well as some of their own composure, and you could not have asked for a more fitting, humorous and engaging group, who even came with their own CDs to sell with £5 of each sale going to the RNLI.

It was a privilege to attend this event and have the opportunity to say a few words of thanks for our nautical heritage, both past and present.

I am thoroughly enjoying to get to know more of the groups and their members within our town and being given the opportunity through the Gazette to share these with you.

I would like to continue to attend as many as possible and cannot urge enough to please send your requests in as soon as you are able to the mayor’s office on 01903 732063 as my diary is filling up very quickly.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I would like to end with a reminder that Saturday 28th we have one of the biggest events in the Littlehampton calendar – Littlehampton Bonfire Society’s torchlight parade, bonfire and fireworks.

As a member of the bonfire society I always look forward to this event and know the amount of hard work that is put into making this event the success that it is, not just by the group itself but the many other local organisations and supporters who help in many different ways.

Every year the group hope to hit the elusive £10,000 mark and just falls shy of it.

Please give generously if you see a collector as every penny does go to good causes.

I will be collecting in the town centre on the day so if you see me please pop what you can into my collection bucket.

They can even still take your forgotten old £1 coins.