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Address by The Honourable
The Mayor of Reigate and Banstead.
One thing that Mayors and Headmasters
have in common is that they are used to making
speeches. Mine, however, will be brief !
During my mayoral year I have visited
many schools in the Borough, but it seems that
I have not been able to keep away from Gatton
Park. Recently I brought a group of Surrey Mayors
to visit, and while we were in St Andrew's Church,
just a hundred yards away, we were entertained
by a young singer who is a pupil at the school.
I am glad to see, from today's programme, that
I shall have the pleasure of hearing her again
later on this morning.
I was also present at the event
to celebrate the school obtaining Specialist Sports
College status. I and some of my fellow Councillors
were interested to hear that part of the extra
funding that the school receives is being spent
on developing sport at the school and on helping
a small group of Primary, Secondary and Special
schools within the Borough.
We were then delighted to hear that,
as from September of this year, almost four hundred
thousand pounds a year will be channelled through
this school to support Sport and Games in all
schools in the Borough and some schools in neighbouring
boroughs. I understand that this is part of a
national strategy to promote healthier lifestyles
among our young people, but I want to express
my thanks to the school for taking on this task
as I know all schools are busy enough just trying
to do the best for their own pupils.
Not many boroughs have a boarding
school in their midst. Because the majority of
pupils thus live quite a long way from here, I
can imagine that it would be possible to exist
rather cut off from the local community. But,
with Open Days for the public to visit Gatton
Park - and this afternoon is one of those Open
Days - and many other links to the local community,
I wish the school every success as it promotes
sport and higher achievement both for its own
pupils and throughout the Borough of Reigate and
Banstead.
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