Guest Appearance at Mayors' Reception

[Pauline Rowson]

I was delighted to be asked to the Mayor of Havant’s reception and the grand opening of the newly refurbished arts and heritage centre in Havant, Hampshire, called The Spring, on 2 October.

The mayor of Havant, Jackie Branson, was entertaining all the mayors from around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – twenty two of them I believe. It is a tradition that each mayor takes it in turn annually to host an event and to give a small gift to every mayor. As it was Havant’s turn this year (my own borough council) and as the mayor had read one of my marine mystery crime novels she opted to give each mayor a signed copy of the second DI Horton novel Deadly Waters, set in nearby city of Portsmouth.

It was a very enjoyable event with a tour of the newly refurbished arts and heritage centre, a short performance by two members of the Bench Theatre, an unexpected and short speech by yours truly, followed by tea and cake.