Agenda item

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that Councillor Zubairi had asked him to convey her thanks for council’s wishes for her speedy recovery from her recent accident, and noted she was making good progress.

The Worshipful the Mayor announced he was pleased to advise that tickets for the Mayors gala dinner on 4 May were now available, and he hoped that as many councillors as possible would be able to attend to support his nominated charities. He noted that this year the dinner would be held under the wings of a Lancaster Bomber at the RAF Museum Hendon.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted he was also pleased to inform Council that he would be running in the 2017 London Marathon in aid of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. 

The Worshipful the Mayor noted it was with sadness he had to announce the passing of former Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Barnet Major Patrick O’Brien TD DL who passed away on Valentine’s Day 2017 aged 86. He noted Patrick would be remembered by many as a former Officer Commanding 240 (Tank Transporter) Squadron RCT at St Albans Road, Barnet, and later as a popular and active Representative Deputy Lieutenant of the Borough for ten years until he reached mandatory retirement on his seventy-fifth birthday in 2005. Educated during the Second War at St Edmund’s College, Ware, Patrick was a Roman Catholic, and his faith was a strong force in all he did. After undergoing training for the Priesthood, he decided his own calling was insufficiently loud, and after extended National Service, he found employment in the Victoria offices of the National Coal Board.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted Patrick became involved with an astonishing range of bodies and activities, both locally and farther afield.  Many of those charities and associations had a military or uniformed theme, from the Army Benevolent Fund, Royal British Legion, Normandy Veterans’ Association, and importantly locally, he took over the reins of Barnet War Memorials Initiative, where he was instrumental in having the Edwardian Officers’ Mess at Inglis Barracks listed and so prevented its demolition. There too, he laboured to find means of having the War Memorial to the circa 12000 dead of the Middlesex Regiment re-sited on The Ridgeway  opposite the former Regimental Chapel, St Paul’s Church, NW7. Patrick served as President of the Finchley Society from 2007, was a Liveryman of the Carmen’s Company, member of the Honourable Artillery Company, and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.  The Worshipful the Mayor noted his funeral had taken place on 7 March, and that he was a dedicated servant of the borough.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted also that Baroness Wall of New Barnet had recently passed away on 25 January 2017. She was created a life peer in the House of Lords in 2004 and was Chair of the Labour Party from 2001 to 2002. She later served as Chairman of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust from 2007, and formed part of Barnet Council’s civic list.

Finally the Worshipful the Mayor announced he was sad to relay that former Barnet Councillor Mary Phillips passed away at the age of 86. He noted that Mary Philips served as a councillor for 12 years, acting as a ward councillor for East Finchley and St Paul’s (now West Finchley). She was chairman of Finchley Area Planning Committee from 1990-94 and was also chairman of the Finchley Carnival, Chairman of Oak Lodge Special School and Chairman of Manor-side Primary School. She also organised the Mayor’s Charity Schools Sponsored Swim at Copthall and taught at Goodwyn’s private school for over 30 years. She leaves behind three sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Councillor Helena Hart spoke in tribute to former Councillor Mary Phillips.

Councillor Brian Salinger spoke in tribute to former Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Barnet Major Patrick O’Brien TD DL and Baroness Wall.

Councillor Gill Sargeant spoke in tribute to former Councillor Mary Phillips and Major Patrick O’Brien.

Councillor Nagus Narenthira spoke in tribute to Colindale resident Lea Adri-Soejoko who was recently found murdered.

On request of The Worshipful the Mayor Council held a minute’s silence.