A message from Cllr Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset CouncilToday the nation marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day – a time to remember and celebrate the generation who served and fought in the Second World War. Over the past week we have seen and heard so many stories about the sacrifices that were made to secure the freedom we all enjoy today. For my part it was an honour to spend time on Saturday talking to Stan Ford - a remarkable D-Day veteran from Bath, who survived his Allied ship being hit by a torpedo. Stan suffered a fractured spine and injuries to both legs on the day his ship HMS Fratton was sunk off the Normandy coast on August 18, 1944. Thirty-eight of the ship’s crew were rescued, however 31 lost their lives. Stan, his family and friends celebrated his very special 100th birthday at a party in Keynsham which I was honoured to attend along with the council’s chair Councillor Karen Walker. Stan continues to dedicate himself to honouring the memory of those who served, including being appointed as an Ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial in 2022. Thank you to Stan and all those from our area and beyond to whom we owe a huge debt. This week we announced development funding of £768,000 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help us progress plans for Fashion Museum Bath and apply for a full National Lottery grant of £7.2million next year. I am thrilled that we have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can now further develop our plans to create our new Fashion Museum of national and international significance. We want to see a world-class institution in our UNESCO World Heritage City which will not only provide a boost to the visitor economy but also support the creative industries and act as an anchor element of the Milsom Quarter Masterplan. Our plans for the Fashion Museum are among many I hope to discuss in more detail with the new Mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin. My congratulations go to Helen who was officially sworn in yesterday at an event which I along with the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset attended (pictured). I very much share the new mayor’s enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead. Collaboration and partnership are vital to improving the lives of residents across the region and this is a great opportunity to reset relations with the mayor. I am also delighted to be the first to take up the mayor’s offer of the role of deputy mayor, which will be shared among the council leaders. Finally, we welcome back the annual Bath Spring Fair which is happening in and around Milsom Street this weekend. It is always really popular among residents and visitors alike. Have a great weekend. | 
