The Mayor attended 39 engagements in July 2009. A selection of these engagements are detailed below.
On 2 July 2009 the Mayor hosted a reception in his Parlour for a group of young people from the Druze Community in Israel. 25 years ago a youth dance troupe from a Druze village in Israel came and took part in a festival in Eastbourne. They stayed in a couple of homes of Christian people who have maintained contact with them ever since. Last year they had the opportunity to visit them in their village in Israel and now members of that village have had the chance to visit Eastbourne once again.
The Mayor attended Eastbourne District Scout Council’s Annual General Meeting on 10 July at Bushy Wood Scout Camp. Whilst he was there he was pleased to open a new reception area which had been built following improvement works at the camp site.
On 16 July 2009 The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment exercised their Freedom of Lewes with a Homecoming Parade for troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. The Mayor was delighted to be invited to attend and welcome home ‘The Tigers’ alongside the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex and the Mayor of Lewes.
Many local residents were saddened to hear of the death of Honorary Freeman Henry Allingham, who died on Saturday 18 July. He was one of the last surviving World War I servicemen and officially the world’s oldest man, at the age of 113. He was the last known survivor of the Battle of Jutland and the holder of the Gold Medal of St Omer and the Legion of Honour. Mr Allingham, whose life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs, was made an Honorary Freeeman of the Borough of Eastbourne in 2006. The Mayor and Mayoress were honoured to be invited to attend his funeral which took place on 30 July at St Nicholas Church, Brighton.
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