With less than three weeks to go before we all go to the polls to decide the next four years in Hounslow, it would be very easy for me to fall into the trap of electioneering as it’s become so much of our day-to-day to those who are interested in democracy.
For those of us who are standing for re-election, our diaries just tend to get a little busier, and our private time just has to take a bit of a hiatus, as we still carry out our duties and commitments as your councillors.
In the month since my last blog - which I admit was jam-packed - life as a councillor hasn’t slowed down.
Unfortunately, just before the Easter holidays, there was an altercation between some students in Chiswick Riverside. At the Riverside Police Ward Panel last Tuesday, this was raised again, as we were joined by the Deputy Head and Safeguarding lead from Chiswick School. Due to the nature of the incident and the age of the kids involved, there’s only so much I can share, but we’ve been reassured by both the Police and the School that this was a standalone occurrence, and steps have been taken to ensure that pupils will be kept safe.
Going back to Easter, I spent Easter Saturday at Chiswick Pier as we had opened our doors for the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Races. As a trustee, I was on double duty - not only taking up my regular role of working behind the bar, but I roped in my friends from the Brentford Ukulele Collective. We had learned a couple of new songs especially for the day which we thought were very apt and our renditions of What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor and Row, Row, Row Your Boat went down a treat - especially with the under 5’s!
I’ve been a trustee at Chiswick Pier on behalf of Hounslow Council since I was first elected in 2018. It has been a joy and an honour to serve on this board. As a charity, we provide such a vital service on behalf of the borough, and am delighted that our last fundraising event was so successful. We are grateful to our sponsors who kindly donated cider from the new Sussex-based brand Howies, gin and tonics from Sipsmiths and a couple of firkins from Fullers.
Thursday night was the last board meeting of this term. The last couple of years have been integral to shaping the future of the charity, and we made some big decisions; with the RNLI set to move to new premises further down river, this gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate our ambitions. I left the meeting with mixed emotions, but with a commitment to my fellow trustees that regardless of the outcome in May, I will continue to support their work and would be very happy to continue as a trustee if asked.
After eight years serving the neighbourhood I grew up in, and where I still live, I’m very aware that there are no guarantees in politics. While the campaign reaches its natural conclusion, it will be down to the electorate to decide if we’re deserving of their trust and vote. In the meantime, casework still appears in our inboxes, or via communication with residents on the doorstep, and we continue to do the jobs we were elected to do.
Looking to the week ahead, Monday evening will be another licensing panel, hopefully not as contentious as Gunnersbury Park, but as always, I’m prepared with a raft of questions. Wednesday will be another night for music, and Friday will be a meeting of the Brentford Heritage Harbour working group.
To wrap up, I would like to thank you for joining me on this journey, it has been an honour, and your support has been invaluable.