Being a Republican but still enjoying the Newham Royal Wedding Celebrations

Picture collage from two events in Newham yesterday that I attended with Gill on behalf of the Council celebrating the Royal Wedding. While I personally believe that our Head of State should not be a hereditary monarch, I respect the views of the majority in this country, who pretty obviously do.

I must admit to being more than a bit worried in light of the experience "across the pond" of us electing a "President Farage" but still think the democrat principal is absolute.

I have blogged previous on this here. It was great to spend time with local residents at the Community Road Centre and the sheltered tower block in Holden Point (Deputy Mayor Clarlene McLean and her lovely deputy, deputy Esme).  

Deputy Mayor Robbins

This elected municipal thing is catching. Belated congratulations to my in-law, Greg Robbins, who was made the Deputy Mayor of Llandudno District Council for 2010/2011 (and I assume will become Mayor 2011/2012?).

Greg is on the left hand side of the picture wearing the bicorn hat next to my very proud sister-in-law Debbie.

It is a very grand looking traditional costume and pendent that he is wearing.

You never know perhaps wearing red for the next year or so will help Greg “see the light” and leave the Welsh Nationalist Party Plaid Cymru and join Labour?

:)

LBTH Friends, the Deputy Mayor and Fab.

Last night I went to a London Borough Tower Hamlets Council (LBTH) staff reunion with a slight difference. Top former Globetown (St James Local Housing Office) Housing officer, Dinur (Dula) Rahman had organised a meal for LBTH staff that work or have worked in the former Globetown neighbourhood area.

I worked with Dula in St James (now alas closed) a couple of years ago. He has moved on and neither of us now work for the Council.

Dula had not only booked the very good Kaya Restaurant in Hanbury Street, E1 (just off Brick Lane) but had arranged delicious food and drink.

To everyone’s surprise he had also arranged as guest of honour, the deputy mayor of Tower Hamlets, (Labour) Councillor Ali, to attend as well as well as local MTV singing star “Fab”, who of course arrived in a Stretched limo. I have never been to a council staff reunion with a pop star. However, this is after all Tower Hamlets. Fab asked me not to post her photo since she is due to lauch a new single soon on MTV.

A good time was had by all even though existing staff in the Tower Hamlets Housing directorate are feeling just a bit bashed around recently. The Council is trying to transfer all its existing social housing to an ALMO. At least one current member of staff present was under notice of redundancy.

Picture above is of some of the people present (most good UNISON members of course). Dula is far left (not in the literal sense of the word of course).

It is a funny old world at times.