Published Tuesday, 5th January 2016

Reigate schoolgirl, Josie Davie, got to be Mini Mayor for the day and help turn on the town’s Christmas lights after winning the Mayor’s Christmas card competition.

Mini Mayor Josie Davie with the Mayor

Josie Davie, aged 10, from Sandcross Primary School in Reigate beat off nearly 100 other entries from nine local schools to be crowned Reigate & Banstead Mini Mayor for the day.

As part of her prize, this Saturday (5 December 2015) Josie got to wear her very own replica Mayoral gown, kindly donated by SWOTS, and spend the day with the Mayor. She was picked up by the Mayor’s chauffeur and went to meet Father Christmas as he landed in Reigate Priory Park by helicopter. Josie then visited Reigate on Ice, Priory Park’s newly installed ice rink, followed by the Reigate Christmas Fayre in Church Street. She was treated to lunch, generously donated by Cote, and was also lucky enough to help former Steps bandmate and star of this year's Harlequin pantomime, Lee Latchford-Evans turn on the Reigate Christmas lights. 

The competition to design a Christmas card for the Mayor was open to all children in years 5 and 6 in the borough and had to represent the Reigate and Banstead area.

The Mayor, Cllr Mrs Joan Spiers, said that “Choosing a winner was incredibly difficult but Josie’s design of Reigate Castle with dancing Christmas puddings and a merry Santa was incredibly colourful and will look wonderful as my Christmas card.”

The card will be sent to all of the Mayor’s friends, colleagues and VIPs this year. The standard of entries was so high that the Mayor also decided to choose 12 runners up who will have their designs printed on the back of the card.

Josie had a fantastic day with the Mayor, who hopes the initiative will continue for many years to come: “It’s a great way to get to know the children in the borough, which is so important as they are our future”, the Mayor added.