Minutes:
The Mayor made an acceptance speech:
Good Evening and Welcome
The Mayor began by wishing everyone good evening, thanking them for coming and then welcoming particularly Alma Nichoigligh, First Secretary of the Irish Embassy and the family of former Council Leader Jeff Rodin.
The Mayor said that she was proud to be part of the Enfield Community and that her year as Deputy Mayor had taught her so much about the extent of the giving and caring for others that exists around us in Enfield.
Looking round the room she said that she could see so many people with whom she had worked. All of whom had something to contribute to Enfield and wanted the best for the borough.
History of the Past
The Mayor said that she stood before the Council, as the daughter of Irish immigrants who had arrived in the country in the late 1940s. She had been born and grown up mostly in Forty Hill. She had good memories of Forty Hall, Hillyfields and other parks where she played when young, apart from the memory of when her older brother and sister had dropped her in the river by the Victorian ponds at Forty Hall.
The Mayor said that she was truly honoured to be the Mayor of Enfield. She owed a great debt to her wonderful parents, Pauline and Liam, who worked tirelessly for others in the borough and ensured that we never ignored anyone that needed help.
The Mayor had been a French graduate and spent a year in the Sorbonne in Paris studying art history and in particular the Impressionists.
While a student she had met her husband, Andrew to whom she had been married for over 30 years. He was with her that evening as her consort along with her son Edward, also her consort.
As the Mayor, she promised to bring a multiplicity of perspectives to the role, like the crest above her: the Enfieldian, with its head of a fox, chest of a hound, body of a lion, hindquarters and tail of a wolf and the talons of an eagle. Whether it was accepted as the amalgam of animals on the old royal hunting ground of Enfield Chase or as the family crest of the O’Kelly’s in Ireland for over 1,000 years, she could identify with both.
The Mayor’s perspective on Enfield was similarly varied. She had been born in Enfield, attended local schools, commuted into Central London, had been a parent with a son at Enfield schools and a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George on the London Road. Her parents had helped raised money for the construction of the church: the predecessor had been destroyed in the war.
The Mayor had also been an officer at the Council, run her own business teaching French at local nursery schools and also taught in several local primary schools.
The Mayor had first been elected as a councillor in 1998, taking breaks since then, one voluntary, one not. She had served on the Cabinet with the portfolio for Adult and Children’s Social Services and as Chair of the former Association of London Governments Health and Social Care Panel. She had also served in opposition and now as Mayor.
Thank Yous
The Mayor said that she could not have done this without the support of many people. She thanked:
· Former Councillor and Leader of the Council Jeff Rodin, a great friend and outstanding individual.
· Councillors Doug Taylor and Terry Neville for nominating her as well as all the other councillors.
· Her ward colleagues Councillor Alev Cazimoglu and Nesil Cazimoglu, the model ward team.
· Rob Lead, Chief Executive of the Council and all the officers for all the outstanding work they do.
· Father Witon and his team at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St George
· The good people of Jubilee Ward who elected her to the Council.
And particularly her family and friends whom she said had lasted the course with her all these years, her three wonderful sisters, fabulous brothers in law and umpteen nieces and nephews that they were all so proud of.
Looking to the Future
In her Mayoral year, the Mayor said that she wanted to harness the power of music in the borough to improve the quality of life for as many people as possible. Music was such a powerful force to bring people together, to raise spirits to give comfort. It was magical.
As Mayor she said that she wanted to hold a year-long musical festival fundraising the raising the profile of music in the borough.
She planned:
· A musical instrument amnesty, under which we will ask people to dig out those un-played instruments stuck in cupboards or lofts so that they can be repaired if necessary and handed over to young people. Councillor Taylor had already promised a guitar.
· Projects to deliver music therapy to older people and those with mental health difficulties.
· Celebration events to shout out about the amazing cross cultural skills and efforts to improve the lives of fellow residents.
The Mayor said that she would profile music in the borough and support Enfield’s choirs and orchestras. The numerous fundraising events that would be held would provide support to those that needed help.
The Mayor hoped that everyone would join her in the adventure and proclaim to all who would listen “Enfield Sounds Great”. This was to be the name of her charity. She hoped all would enjoy the music that would be showcased later in the evening.
Final Engagement as Deputy Mayor
On the preceding Monday, the Mayor with the former Mayor, Councillor Patricia Ekechi, had together attended a full school assembly at St Ignatius College. Both their sons had attended the school. Together they had seen the introduction of the new college captain and, for the first time ever, a female headteacher of a Jesuit school, Mary O’Keeffe. She wished Mary O’Keeffe the very best for a successful headship.
The mayors had listened to the boys’ talk about their love of the school and listened to the present headteacher who had spoken of Nelson Mandela’s words about “invisible wounds”, and the importance of recognising mental illness as having an equal status with any other illness.
The Mayor thanked Councillor Patricia Ekechi for her friendship and support over the year and welcomed Councillor Christine Hamilton and Ian Hamilton, as the new deputy and consort. She said that they had been good friends and colleagues for many years and that they would make a strong mayoral team together.
Chairing Full Council Meetings
The Mayor said that she was looking forward to the two political groups challenging each other but that this must be in a courteous manner. She knew that the two whips would ensure good behaviour from their parties and was hoping that she would not have to resort to the naughty step.
Conclusion
Later on in the reception she said that she had dedicated a song to all her fellow councillors that the Council choir would sing “One Call Away”. She would be one call away as Mayor. If she was needed to support another councillor in a ward activity or anything else they were to let her know. Or if there was a problem, as a caring Mayor, she was one call away.
Finally she wished the best for the people of Enfield and pledged to work hard all year to make them proud of her. She thanked all for supporting her and asked them to remember to tell everyone “Enfield Sounds Great”.