Councillor Judy Saunders, member for Cricket Green Ward, was elected as the borough’s new mayor at the official mayor making ceremony on Wednesday 18 May 2005, selecting ‘Leisure in Your Community’ as this year’s theme.
As one of her first mayoral duties, Mayor Judy Saunders appointed Councillor Peter Southgate and his wife Pauline Southgate as Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, whilst appointing Reverend Alice Price as her Chaplain.
Councillor Saunders said: “I am delighted and honoured to be the first citizen of the London Borough of Merton. Our Borough is rich in heritage, history, and cultural diversity. I am very much a ‘people person’ and I have always been encouraged by the active pride and participation that people take within their communities.”
She continued: “I want to raise the profile of leisure activity and its importance to our mental and physical well being. So with this focus in mind I want to get out into the community and explore just what it is that people are organising and participating in during their leisure time.”
Each year the Mayor selects a specific charity to support throughout the year; this year’s charity is Merton Music Foundation. The charity was formed in 1991, and provides music tuition and youth music activities for young people and adults in Merton.
The Mayor said; “In order to reflect on my theme of ‘Leisure in Your Community’, I am delighted that the Merton Music Foundation has agreed to be my charity for the year, and I look forward to working with them.”
If you would like to donate money to the Mayor of Merton’s Charities and help this important local cause, please contact the Mayor’s secretary on 020 8545 3517, email mayor@merton.gov.uk or look online at http://www.merton.gov.uk/council/mayor
Ends
Notes to editor
§ Councillor Judy Saunders was elected to Merton Council in 1994 and represents Cricket Green Ward in Mitcham.
§ She has served on many committees that included four years as Chair of the Social Services Committee, and last year she chaired the Street Management Overview & Scrutiny Panel. She also serves as a Trustee of South Mitcham Community Centre.
§ Merton Music Foundation is a Registered Charity. The programme caters for children from the age of five upwards with its Young Music Makers project through to senior musicians performing at the highest level of national youth music.
§ The MMF also supports the development of music education in Merton schools with a range of Wider Opportunities initiatives including concert performances, workshops and projects for thousands