It is a great honour for me to become the 764th Mayor of Poole. And what a year to be in office with so many exciting events taking place nationally and within the Town!!
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations were fully embraced by the residents of Poole. With my husband, I had the pleasure to be invited to Street Parties all over the Borough, some in the sunshine and some in the pouring rain!! But it was a joy to see so many people celebrating our Royal Heritage.
We also have the Olympic Torch coming through the town on July 13th. There will be many events taking place on the route the torch is taking. I hope to be on the Quay with the Old Town First School, of which I am a Governor, and cheering on the runners at the Civic Centre with officers, Councillors and many Cadet Units. It should be great fun!
I am supporting three charities. Firstly, Poole Communities Fund. This fund will help me co-ordinate and generate funding support for many charities and community groups in Poole that are endeavouring to raise funds at the moment, and also leave a lasting legacy of support for many to access in the future.
My two other charities are Parkstone Sea Cadets and Poole Sea Scouts. Both of these Units are struggling to improve their buildings. It would be wonderful to give them a helping hand with this. In my work as a Councillor I have a particular interest in the young people of Poole, so I have appointed three Youth Escorts to support me this year . . . Tommy Pocknell from Parkstone Sea Cadets, Lewis Simmonds from Poole Sea Scouts and William Hurd-Wood from Lilliput Sea Scouts. They are very smart, able young men, and a credit to their parents, their schools and themselves, and they are doing a great job as my Escorts!
I look forward to meeting a wide range of residents and businesses in my Mayoral year, but I hope also to visit many schools and youth groups.
Not only do I want to make more people aware of the Civic role of the Mayor, but more importantly, I want to learn more about the hopes and concerns of local people.
Cllr Carol Evans
Mayor of Poole 2012-2013