Deputy mayor's cycling pledge

Windsor's cycling deputy mayor is 'gearing up' to raise money as he pedals for two popular charities.

At Tuesday's annual meeting of the Royal Borough Cllr James Evans (Con, Clewer South) delighted councillors, officers, residents and guests when he said: "I will be donating 20p for every mile I cover on my bike during my term of office to the mayor's charities this year."

Cllr Evans was confirmed at the meeting in Windsor's historic Guildhall as Deputy Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead for 2014 to 2015.

At the same meeting Cllr Richard Kellaway (Con, Bisham and Cookham) was formally elected as Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead for the year, receiving the mace from outgoing mayor Cllr Andrew Jenner (Con, Maidenhead Riverside).

Cllr Kellaway announced that his chosen charities for his year in office would be the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service and the Longridge Activity Centre in Quarry Wood Road, Bisham.

Among the guests at the 'mayor making' ceremony  were John and Fiona Devine, the Dedworth couple who set up their charity in memory of their son Alexander. They plan to build a £5m children's hospice at Snowball Hill in Woodlands Park, Maidenhead.Longridge is the celebrated activity centre offering outdoor activities for young people. It suffered £100,000 worth of damage during the recent floods.