I was elected to the Council in May 2007 by the people of Haslemere North and Grayswood and am very honoured to have been elected by my peers to serve as Mayor for Haslemere Town for 2009 - 2010.

I have lived in Haslemere since my parents brought me here when I was one, and had an idyllic childhood attending local schools before going off to London to train as a nurse at Guy's Hospital. I returned to Haslemere and worked at Haslemere Hospital and then in Farnham as a sister on a geriatric ward at Green Lane Hospital which I loved. After a few years, a vacancy arose as a District Nurse in Haslemere and as this was something I had wanted to do for a long time, I jumped at the chance although I was very sorry to leave the ward in Farnham.

With the arrival of the first of my four children I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at home and enjoyed the village of Grayswood where we now lived. I helped to found the Mother and Toddlers Group in the village with a group of other mothers who had also recently had their first child, and was a keen member of the Grayswood W.I. I also became the local Avon lady, a great job with small children and a chance to meet neighbours! Grayswood has always been a friendly, happy village and in those days had a Post Office and two village stores. Things have changed, but today it retains the village atmosphere, with an active church, a bustling pub and a thriving primary school. The village green and hall are both well used and it is the quintessential English picture when the cricketers are playing on a lovely summer's day.

Grayswood has been so supportive as I start my Mayoral year, hosting the civic service at All Saints. From the moment I rang to ask about the possibility of holding the service at the church, until the last tables were cleared after the reception, there was nothing but willing help. It is a great village community and I am very grateful for all their hard work.

This will be a busy year for the Town Council, and we look forward to serving our constituents as best we can, working with the Borough and County Councils as necessary. During these difficult economic times, we realise the importance of supporting our local businesses and organisations so that Haslemere can retain its lively atmosphere and encourage visitors.

My charities for the year are the Haslemere Educational Museum and Everyman, the male cancer charity. I hope not only to raise funds for these two worthwhile causes, but also to raise their profile. The Museum is one of the gems in Haslemere's crown and is independently managed and funded. My own family has been touched by testicular cancer, and we know that early detection of this and prostate cancer can vastly assist with full recovery, so ensuring that chaps get early advice is essential. I am immensely grateful to those who have offered to help with fundraising during the year and would welcome any other ideas!

I look forward to serving the Haslemere community including all its villages this year, and if you think I can be of assistance in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Yours

Melanie Odell
Town Mayor Haslemere