100 Supporters, 12 Mayors & a Bishop

The Mayor and Mayoress of Waverley, Cllr John and Mrs Gillian Ward, celebrated their Civic Service on Sunday 26th June in the church of St. Thomas-on-The Bourne, Farnham. They were supported by a congregation of over 100 including a dozen Mayor & Chairs of Towns and Boroughs from across Surrey and Hampshire. 

The service was conducted by the Curate, the Rev. Sandy Clarke, and the Address was given by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Christopher Herbert, former Bishop of St. Albans. The chosen readings included The Gifts of Wisdom, The Gift of Love and Footprints in the Sand. In giving his Promise of Office, the Mayor pledged himself to “serve the Borough and its people to the best of his ability”.  

At the end of the service, which included a brilliant Anthem by the Choir, there was a retiring collection for the Mayor’s two Charities; Creative Response, a small local charity offering arts-based workshops for those experiencing mental health and learning difficulties and the Jigsaw Trust which runs a school supporting children with autism to reach their full potential. Commenting on his nominated charities the Mayor said: “I am deeply committed to aiding these charities in helping vulnerable people of all ages in Waverley and doing all that I can to support them as Mayor.”   

He added: “I am grateful to all who attended my Civic Service and look forward with great anticipation as to what the future holds and what we can achieve as a community over the next year.”   

To support the Mayor’s nominated charities, visit his Just Giving Page and to keep up to date with the Mayor’s work in the borough visit The Mayor’s Blog.