Received in the Parlour by the Mayor of Lambeth Councillor Clive Bennett – Thursday 28 June 2012

A packed parlour said farewell to our colleague Len Lewis with his loyalty and commit to the borough reflected in over 47 years service, deservedly recorded by past Mayors, elected members and an impressive array of our senior officers including the Chief Executive.  The following week the Mayor hosted a most lively reception for some of our Head Teachers on the occasion of their retirement, with the demonstrable reassurance that their valuable contributions to Children and Young People Services in Lambeth will remain in safe hands with several of our current heads receiving prestigious awards for successfully co-ordinating change management programmes and guiding staff in demanding areas of teaching and learning.

Local services

One of the advantages of living in Lambeth is the contribution made to our communities by two very fine hospitals.  St Thomas’ with an enviable depth of knowledgeable health professionals supported by an extremely well run Friends Group and King’s College whose recent Family Fun Day turned the daily delivery of skills into activities creatively pitched at an exceptional level of learning by doing for everyone lucky enough to be invited. 

Whenever I attend an Open Day or Family Fun Day the giving back to the community by our Police, PCSO’s, Paramedics and Fire Service who attend often at the cost of a rest day, is always reassuring.  These role models of service are essential in environments where our young people in Lambeth can see the benefits of a uniformed belonging and where the mark of respect that it carries is there for us all to see and applaud.