Agenda item

(i) Obituaries

Councillor Andre Bourne paid tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Council

Freeman, and former resident of the Borough. Archbishop Tutu was

recognised as an internationally known opponent of apartheid who maintained

strong links to Lewisham.

Councillor Obajimi Adefiranye added that Archbishop Tutu was the first

African to be made a Freeman of the Borough in 1994. He said he was proud

to have met him and he praised his efforts for the contribution he had made to

the continuing struggle for justice and equality.

The Mayor remembered Jack Dromey MP for Birmingham Erdington. Jack

Dromey was the father of former Cabinet Member and Councillor Joe

Dromey. The Mayor offered his condolences to Jack’s family at this sad time.

Councillor John Muldoon added that he had known Jack Dromey for several

decades having first met him in the 1970s thanks to their joint involvement in

the Trade Union movement. Councillor Muldoon praised him as a people’s

politician serving diligently the residents of his Birmingham constituency since

2010 and acting as Shadow Immigration Minister.

All present observed a minute of silence in memory of Archbishop Desmond

Tutu and Jack Dromey MP.

(ii) Borough of Culture

Councillor Andre Bourne updated the Council on the Borough of Culture

programme which was due to commence on Friday January 28. Details of the

programme could be viewed at https://www.wearelewisham.com/

(iii) New Years List 2022

The Speaker congratulated Alex Yee, Ezechi Britton and Emma Redding on

their awards.

(iv) New Cross Fire Anniversary

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Brenda Dacres, reported on the 41^st

anniversary of the New Cross Fire and the commemorative service she had

attended the day before.

(v) Holocaust Memorial Day

The Mayor commenced this item by recounting the long history of support the

Borough had given to Holocaust Memorial Day. He placed his thanks on

record to his predecessor as Chair of the Memorial Committee, the Deputy

Speaker, Councillor Pauline Morrison. He said it was crucial that

commemorative work continue given that society had clearly not learned

lessons from the terrible acts of the past. The continuing strands of anti-

semitism had been recently demonstrated by the attack on a synagogue in

Texas by a British citizen. The Mayor looked forward to the online launch of

Holocaust Memorial Day and reported the theme would be ‘one day’.

The Mayor introduced Gerald Rose, the Warden of Catford & Bromley

Synagogue who reminded the Council that January 27 each year was

Holocaust Memorial Day. He spoke about the life of Holocaust survivor,

Rachael Levy whose portrait had been commissioned by Prince Charles and

was shortly to be unveiled on a BBC 2 programme.

Mr Rose concluded by saying a memorial prayer in English which was

followed by a video.

The Mayor and the Speaker then both lit memorial candles to commemorate

the victims of all holocausts. All present then observed a minute of silence.

(vi) Mayor’s Winter Appeal 2021

The Mayor thanked all who had contributed to the raising of over £15,000.