Councillor Winters Monthly Update – October 2023
Preparations are well underway for Remembrance Day in Newmarket, to honour those members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty. The eleventh of the eleventh falls on Saturday this year, and there will be a short ceremony and the observation of the two minutes’ silence at the War Memorial.
On Sunday 12th, we will host the wreath-laying ceremony, and a two minutes’ silence at the War Memorial, beginning at 1.45pm, followed by the parade along the High Street and to Tattersalls for the service. Please come along and join us. Do be advised that the High Street will be closed to traffic for the duration of the procession.
I was delighted to participate in the Henry Cecil Open Weekend at the end of September. This year, the events were fundraising for the British Racing School, Racing Welfare, and Newmarket Open Door. The weather held up for us and it was well-attended. I hope you all went along to visit the Equine Hospital, Peter O’Sullevan House, the National Stud, the National Horseracing Museum, and the Jockey Club rooms, all of whom graciously opened their doors and hosted special events for visitors to enjoy on the Saturday, with of course, horseracing at the Rowley Mile racecourse in the afternoon. Alongside the opening of many of the trainers’ yards, Sunday saw the gallops on Warren Hill open to the general public, a talk in Tattersalls sales ring, and a racehorse parade, show jumping, Shetland Pony Grand National, and a fun dog show on The Severals. If you weren’t able to attend, do look out for the event next September as there is so much to see and do.
I was part of the panel of judges tasked with determining which yards had made the most effort to welcome visitors to their open event. The honours went to George Scott and Godolphin Rehoming. Very well done to them, and grateful thanks to everyone who very kindly allowed the public a peek into their facilities.
We held the official opening of our COVID commemoration flowerbeds at the War Memorial Gardens on 19th September. Developed as part of the Suffolk Mental Health project, who gave Newmarket Town Council a grant of £5,000 to go towards the memorialisation, it consists of two new flowerbeds with white roses and rosemary for remembrance. A granite tablet will be installed at a later date on one bed, engraved with the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson: “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever”, and a panel displaying some of the words that became so familiar to us during the pandemic, on the other. In addition, there are two new benches engraved with “To Those We Lost” and “Reflect and Remember”. It was created to be a calm space where we can all go to take a few minutes out of our busy lives to sit, take a breath, and remember all those impacted by COVID.
Best wishes
Philippa Winter