Guest column: Honour to be elected County Counci's new chairman

I was also honoured to be invited to stand as chairman for the coming term, and I was delighted when I was elected at a full council meeting recently.

I will embrace the position to represent Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire residents and our wonderful county in the way that is expected of me.

My chosen charity for my term in office is Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

The hospital has just launched The Big Appeal to raise money to invest in state of the art imaging facilities for Nottingham’s young patients to give them the best chance of recovery from brain tumours.

Money will go towards the appeal, but if a particular need for some equipment or other service is identified during the year, then the chairman’s funds raised would be diverted to this specific cause.

Many people may have watched the series of programmes just recently which showed the excellent work that takes place at the Queen’s Medical Centre.

I am very fortunate to have a healthy grandson but I know there are people who are not so fortunate.

I hope we can all help to raise funds for this very worthy project, one cannot help but be touched by the devoted work of the staff and the worry and anguish of parents sitting by the side of sick children.

On Sunday, June 24, at 3pm, the Nottinghamshire County Council Civic Service will be held at Southwell Minster.

I would like anyone to join me who wishes to support me.

It will be a ‘toe tapping service’ which everyone will enjoy and remember long after they leave the Minster.

While I have lived abroad in Australia, the Arctic Circle and California in the past, my family roots are in North Muskham, where I grew up and have lived with my husband Barry since 1984.

Some of my family and friends will accompany me on some of my official duties as chairman.

I am hoping to put my own stamp on my term in office and I am thoroughly looking forward to the year ahead.

To donate to the chairman’s charity this year, email [email protected], call 0115 9627905, or visit the website at www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk