News

Mayor’s Blog: The Mayor’s Parlour

One of the enjoyable things about the Mayor's Parlour is not just the fact that you can enjoy inviting people there but the paintings. These are from the Borough's Art Collection and the Mayor chooses the ones for display in the Parlour for their year. Sometimes of course they are not available for viewing, for example, being committed to other exhibitions for that time.

Council blog | 04 Apr 24

Deputy Mayor’s Blog: The arts – a window into our soul

Culture and the arts have always been vibrant in our Borough. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending several events showcasing some fabulous talent.

Council blog | 21 Mar 24

Mayor's Blog: Our young people

Recently, I have found myself attending events that are celebrating our young people. Parents and carers, teachers, and other professionals, saying how wonderful these youngsters are in many ways. Best of all though is seeing and hearing from the children and young people themselves.

Council blog | 07 Mar 24

Deputy Mayor’s Blog: Hope lights the way

According to the Chinese zodiac, every Lunar New Year, beginning with the second new moon after the winter solstice, a new animal takes over the reins of fate. Its character is said to guide the course of the year and individuals born under its sign, to adopt its behaviour and traits.

Council blog | 21 Feb 24

Mayor’s Blog: The start of spring

The daylight hours are getting longer, crocuses have appeared and there was a beautiful display of snowdrops to surprise me on Nursery Green, Hampton, when I went for a walk this week.

Council blog | 08 Feb 24

Holocaust Memorial Day: The fragility of freedom

27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day, an opportunity for us to remember the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, and reflect on these truly horrific events.

Council blog | 25 Jan 24

The start of 2024 - A time to mourn and a time to dance

“To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3) and so it has proved at the start of 2024. While tradition dictates that new year is a time for celebration this January has also been a time for heartfelt sorrow over the loss of dear friends and inspirational pillars of our community.  

Council blog | 23 Jan 24

Mayor’s Blog: Unexpected fun

Unexpected fun is often the best kind as it takes you by surprise. This has happened quite a few times since I have become Mayor and what follows shares with you a few examples!

Council blog | 07 Dec 23

Deputy Mayor’s Blog: A time to remember and a time to celebrate light over darkness

Traditionally November is the month for remembering, starting with all Souls Day on 1 November when Christians remember the souls of the departed. 

Council blog | 23 Nov 23

Mayor's Blog: Places of worship

It has occurred to me that during the time I have been Mayor I have been invited to and visited several places of worship. Of course, the most personal one has been St Mary's Twickenham where the Civic Service was held on 8 October. However, there have been others around the Borough and around our great city of London. 

Council blog | 08 Nov 23

Deputy Mayor's Blog: The power of music

As the ancient Greek philosopher Plato once said, 'music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything' and I am delighted to say that still rings true in the Borough of Richmond today.

Council blog | 25 Oct 23

How we've been making the borough safer

We know that our residents should be able to go about their lives with the assurance that our streets are safe and accessible. Keeping residents safe is one of our top priorities and in September we were working to show you how we are doing it.

Council blog | 18 Oct 23

Mayor’s Blog: Routes through Richmond upon Thames

'How do I get there and back?', is often a large consideration when we're thinking of making a visit somewhere, followed shortly by 'how much will it cost?' Very much okay for The Mayor, I hear you say, as there's an electric car (plus driver) assigned specifically for them to use for Mayoral events. This is something that's provided so that I can visit more residents and find out what wonderful volunteers you are (I mean that sincerely).

Council blog | 12 Oct 23

A fundamental right: Look after your emotional wellbeing this World Mental Health Day

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’. So, it’s an opportunity to highlight how and where residents can conveniently access services that support us to live healthy lifestyles.

Council blog | 10 Oct 23

Deputy Mayor’s Blog: Bringing communities together and improving our wellbeing

Breaking down barriers, bringing communities together and supporting people to improve their wellbeing, whatever their background, are some of the core values underpinning Richmond's thriving voluntary sector which has over 800 organisations providing services that enrich our community. 

Council blog | 29 Sept 23

How we’ve been making Richmond upon Thames fit for growth

As summer begins to wind down and students return to school for a new academic year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the wealth of opportunities available in the borough that makes it great to grow as well as start something new.

Council blog | 14 Sept 23

Mayor’s Blog: Helping our community to love later life

It has been my privilege to meet many residents, typically, quoting Kenneth Williams, “those not in the first flush of youth.”

They are often the volunteers and trustees of many charities and societies that help our borough’s life move along in a positive fashion. No, they are not doing it just to receive a ‘feel good’ factor for themselves but often they are contributing much time and effort to keep good things going.

Council blog | 13 Sept 23

Deputy Mayor’s Blog: Richmond and Chile – the ties that bind us

What connects Richmond with Chile, the southernmost country in the world, that long narrow strip of land on South America’s western edge with the mighty Andes mountains on one side and 6,000 km of Pacific Ocean coastline on the other?

The answer is Bernardo O’Higgins and just off Richmond Bridge, in O’Higgins Square, you can find a statue of him.

Council blog | 30 Aug 23

Embracing diversity in the borough

I immigrated to the UK in 1982 and I have been living here in South West London since then.  

Council blog | 17 Aug 23

Mayor's Blog: Celebrating youth events in the borough

One of the exciting things in being Mayor is to visit schools and events where there are children and young people present. In the three months I have been Mayor, I have attended several of these. I always enjoy the surprise and interest in the world around them shown by young children. It is something we should still be striving for as adults.

Council blog | 16 Aug 23