For details of the Order of Proceedings please see page 7

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the Annual Meeting and gave a brief résumé of her year of office.

The Mayor commenced by stating that throughout her Mayoral year she had met many people at official Mayoral engagements, many of whom were present at the meeting that evening. She advised that the Mayor was the public face of the Council and was an ambassador for the Council both within and outside of the Borough and that nothing could prepare a person for being Mayor as every year was different.  However, both she and her Consort had enjoyed enormously the variety of functions that they had attended and had taken on the mantel that both her father and grandfather had done previously when they had been Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor.

The Mayoral year had commenced with the celebrations of the 800^th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta and had concluded with a number of events to celebrate Her Majesty’s 90^th birthday.  The Mayor advised that it had been an honour to be part of Her Majesty’s 90^th birthday celebrations, which the Queen had decided to hold in Windsor with residents and visitors to the Borough.

The Mayor commented upon the variety of events that she had attended, ranging from chairing Council meetings, cutting ribbons, attending dinners, giving talks, visiting schools, enjoying all kinds of performances and raising funds for her chosen charity Thames Hospice Care.   In particular, the Mayor commented upon having to play second fiddle to Basil Brush, with whom she had shared a dance at the switch on of the Christmas lights. 

Like Mayors before her Councillor Quick paid tribute to the large number of volunteers that give so much of their time to make a difference to the quality of lives of Borough residents.  She commented that the happiest people that she met appeared to be those people that gave up so much of their time to assist others.

The Mayor commented upon one of the final engagements that she had undertaken as Mayor, a memorial service for Sir Nicholas Winton.  The Mayor advised that Sir Nicholas Winton was a great inspiration to us all and had done so much in his life to assist others, but would be particularly remembered for organising the Kindertransport that saved hundreds of children prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. 

The Mayor paid tribute to the Civic Team for providing a first class service, which was the envy of neighbouring local authorities, and advised that she had enjoyed her Mayoral Year immensely and had many happy memories to reflect on as she readjusted to normal life.

In conclusion, The Mayor paid tribute to Councillor Luxton and Ian Luxton for being an able Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayors’ Consort and for the support they had given her throughout the year.

THE MAYOR INVITED NOMINATIONS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE MAYOR OF THE ROYAL BOROUGH FOR 2016/2017.

In nominating Councillor Sayonara Luxton, Councillor Quick explained that Councillor Luxton had been born in Goa and was one of 7 Siblings.  Councillor Quick explained that her 2 brothers and 4 sisters were spread all over the world and commented that if they shared Councillor Luxton’s passion for shopping together they could help solve the world economic crisis.

At 21 Councillor Luxton left Goa and moved to Dubai to join her family.  She worked for the Airbus Industry and it was in Dubai that she met her husband, Ian.  Councillor Quick explained that it was only after they were married that Ian discovered Councillor Luxton’s hobby for shopping.  After leaving Dubai they moved to England and have been settled in Sunningdale with their four daughters for many years.

Councillor Luxton was elected to serve as a Councillor for Sunningdale in 2007 and had been a very active member of the Council’s administration.  As Deputy Mayor for the last year Councillor Luxton has had a good grounding in the mayoralty and was well aware of how demanding the role could be, but was still keen to be the next Mayor. Councillor Quick advised that they had worked closely together and Councillor Luxton had been a great support to her. Councillor Luxton was a charming ambassador for the Borough, related well to people of all ages and would make an excellent Mayor.

In conclusion, Councillor Quick advised that she had no hesitation in proposing Councillor Sayonara Luxton to be Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Kellaway announced that it gave him great pleasure to second the motion and was very pleased to introduce Ian Luxton as the Mayor’s Consort for the year.

Councillor Kellaway stated that both he and Ian had some things in common – Ian was born in King’s College Hospital in 1954 and Councillor Kellaway’s latest grandson was born  there only last month.  Ian had read Economics at the right university in 1972 and had qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1979.  Ian was subsequently transferred to their Dubai office a year later and liked it so much that he stayed for 14 years, becoming general manager of the World Trade Centre in 1990 shortly after meeting Councillor Luxton.

Ian had been working with the Al Fayeds in Dubai and had moved over to Harrods Finance in London, which pleased Councillor Luxton very much.  A further move to Turnbull and Asser was not quite so good for Councillor Luxton but she did acquire a nice range of shirts.  In 2001 Ian switched into the entirely different trade of motor repair and he was currently Director of Finance for Nationwide Accident Repair Services.

Councillor Kellaway commented that Ian was a quiet man, the reason being he had four beautiful and talented daughters, as well as a beautiful and talented wife.  Councillor Kellaway explained that he had married into a family of four girls and that the volume of sound went up in geometric proportion to the number of girls together at one time. 

However, Councillor Kellaway advised that Ian seemed to be a happy man and would be an excellent support for Councillor Luxton during her year as Mayor. Councillor Kellaway concluded by stating that it gave him the greatest of pleasure to second the nomination of Councillor Sayonara Luxton for the position of Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the ensuing municipal year.

It was moved by Councillor Quick, seconded by Councillor Kellaway and

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Councillor Sayonara Luxton be elected Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the ensuing Municipal Year.

The Managing Director declared Councillor Luxton duly elected Mayor. Councillor Luxton made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, witnessed by Councillors Quick and Kellaway.   

THE MAYOR (COUNCILLOR MRS LUXTON) IN THE CHAIR

In making her speech of acceptance, the Mayor thanked Councillors Quick and Kellaway for their kind words of support and commented that it was a great honour to be appointed Mayor to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, promising to serve with diligence and pride.

The Mayor advised that, when she had left Goa 40 years ago she could not, even in her wildest of dreams, have dreamt that she would one day hold such high office, especially in the Royal Borough and in such a very special year that celebrated Her Majesty's 90th birthday.

The Mayor commented that the Mayoral Robes were not designed for her stature but she would give everything to the role and, with the support of colleagues, hoped that she would make a difference to the community and would leave a lasting legacy that everyone would be proud of.  The Mayor explained that she was grateful to Barnett Fletcher, who had given her the opportunity to work alongside him on The Ascot Charitable Trust when she first came to England and than later when he had elected her as a Trustee.  It was through Barnett that she had met Alan Carr, with whom she had worked for a number of years raising funds for Local and National Charities.

The Mayor also thanked Councillor Lynda Yong for introducing her to the rather different world of local politics and in doing so changed the direction of her life, providing her with the opportunity to grow in a more caring pastoral sense.

The Mayor advised that it was her wish to develop a significant project to celebrate her Majesty’s 90^th birthday and that further details would be revealed in due course.  She also advised that she would continue to support the War Horse Memorial project, which she hoped would be installed in Ascot in her Mayoral year. The Mayor explained that, apart from the educational and tourism benefits, the project would also form a catalyst for significant and ongoing fundraising in support of the armed forces.

The Mayor commented that she would be supporting The Household Cavalry Foundation in honour of the local regiment, with money raised during her Mayoral year being dedicated to supporting members of the regiment and their families who had unfortunately suffered as a result of conflict.  The Mayor advised that she would also be supporting the Mayor’s Benevolent Fund and where possible would support other local charities that provided much needed support to the most disadvantaged residents of the borough.

In conclusion, the Mayor thanked Councillor Quick for being such a wonderful mentor over the past year, her husband Ian for continuing as her Consort and her children, family and friends for their continued support.

Councillor Quick presented the Mayor with the Mace, the Mayor's seal, the Borough seal and the keys to the Mayor’s Parlour. The Mayor responded by presenting Councillor Quick and her husband John with their Past Mayor's and Past Mayor’s Consort badges.