Town Award holder and former Town Councillor and Mayor Gordon McGinty passed away on 14 January 2021 at the age of 90. Gordon lived in Horley for all of his married life, serving as a Town Councillor for Horley for over 10 years, and was chosen by his fellow councillors to serve as Town Mayor of Horley in 1982/83 and 1987. 

Gordon was a valued member of the Horley community. In addition to being a town councillor, he was a school governor at Court Lodge Comprehensive, joining the steering group of governors who oversaw the creation of the new Horley secondary school in 1989. When Oakwood School opened, he served as a senior governor as well as Vice-Chairman of the governors, in addition to which he remained a governor for Court Lodge Infant School. He was given a Horley Town Award in 2004, in recognition of all his efforts as governor and role model to children. The citation reads that Gordon McGinty 'gives his time generously, is unselfish in any advice he offers and has been in every sense of the phrase “a real friend of Oakwood”'.

Our condolences go to his daughters and other family members.

We were fortunate to have some truly wonderful entries into the photographic competition to show how local residents have been using the outdoor spaces in Horley during the 2020 Pandemic. To see a full list of the winners and their superb photographs click here but below is a small snippet of the 16+ category winners. 

The National Greyhound Homing Centre is fast approaching completion and we are all very excited to reach the day we can welcome our first greyhounds into their ‘half-way house’ and all our lovely visitors, who will be looking to offer them their forever home.

Although the centre is not yet complete or open, we are still very much welcoming volunteers who wish to support our greyhounds and can start doing so right away.  If you are interested in offering your skills, knowledge or experience to help fundraise for the National Greyhound Homing Centre, please email charlotte.ford@greyhoundtrust.org.uk.

The Trust is also running an art competition see news item for details 

There are four interrelated projects that together form a comprehensive programme of investment in the town centre:

1. Refurbishing the subway between the High Street and Station Approach
2. Public realm improvements to the High Street
3. Installation of pay-on-exit car parking at the Victoria Road Car Park and Central Car Park
4. Redeveloping the High Street Car Park to provide new homes.

To read about the latest developments on the project see the latest new here

A new initiative, funded by the Department of Work and Pensions and developed in partnership by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council, will launch on 1 March to help target the significant increase in unemployment among 18-24 year olds across East Surrey since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The new ‘East Surrey Youth Hub’ aims to support the hundreds of young residents claiming Universal Credit in the area, providing access to a wide range of coaching, mentoring and soft skills development, tailored to meet their career aspirations. To find out more click here

1st February saw the launch of a new employment website developed by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in collaboration with the borough’s major employers. Launching at a critical time for residents who may be looking for a job, a career change, or wishing to work closer to home, the website is dedicated to mapping out the local employment landscape and employment opportunities.

Residents using the website - Reigate & Banstead Works - will find information about the key sectors and industries in the borough, the major employers and where they are located, the wide range of jobs available locally, as well as a search tool to find the latest, live vacancies. 
The Reigate & Banstead Works website is now live at www.rb-works.co.uk

Brian Wilson from Horley Bowls Club was selected as this year's winner in the Community Club Champion category. On winning the award Brian said, 'To have been nominated for this award by our club committee is very, very flattering, to have been chosen as the Community Club Champion of the Year was an incredible surprise. Thank you all so much!”

You can watch a video of the virtual awards evening - held on 25 February – detailing the other winners and showing why they won on the RBBC YouTube channel.

• In Person at a Polling Station
• By Post - We will send you a postal voting pack so you can complete your ballot paper at home and return it by post. Apply by 5pm on 20 April.
• By proxy - appointing a person to vote on your behalf at your polling station. The deadline to apply is 5pm on 27 April

For information on applying for postal and proxy votes click here