News
As the sun sets upon Cllr. Penny Rivers’ busy year in office as Mayor of Waverley, Helen Jackson, Marketing & Communications Manager, was pleased to give a vote of thanks on behalf of The Meath Epilepsy Charity and other members of the community across the borough of Waverley.
The Vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor of Waverley was given at the Annual Council Meeting on 19th May 2026. The Meath and many people from the local community were keen to share their thanks to Penny for her dedication and compassion over the past year.
Vote of Thanks Given at Council Chambers
Penny has given our community another year, which has been filled with hard work and genuine support. She is tenacious, compassionate, and complete with a finely tuned moral compass. It would be a very long speech indeed if I were to list all of Penny’s many strengths. But I would like to share with you, an example of a wonderful quality that she has put to good use this year.
To do so, I will lean on another member of our community. I am proud to work at The Meath Epilepsy Charity, in Godalming- we support adults with complex epilepsy and disabilities. Peter, a Meath resident has shared a quote.
“When I wrote to Penny and Paul, I was really upset about the potholes for me and my friends. Getting to town was really hard, and too dangerous, so I wrote to Penny and Paul to ask them to sort it out. Now the road is smooth it’s much easier and I feel proud that I got this done for my friends. Penny and Paul helped me and they’re proud of me. I’ve got a certificate for helping people.”
Thanks to Penny and Paul’s approach with listening to and supporting a valid request for help from a member of their community, Peter was able to feel proud of drawing attention to a problem, which once fixed, has benefited many others.
When Penny lends her support, she freely gives with it, her courage, her strength and does so until the person or people she is supporting can recognise their progress and achievements. Typically, she then returns with congratulations and thanks. This ego-free approach to life and to serving one’s community, invites us all, just as it says on the Certificate she awarded Peter, to be ‘Good Citizens’.
Thank you Penny for this, and on behalf of all at The Meath, thank you for the genuine friendship and care that you show for the people we support, and all those who support them.
Echoes of Appreciation from across Waverley
Many others from across Waverley would like to share their words of thanks to Penny.
Jack Tomes, Head of Operations at Skillway, commented:
“Penny has been a fantastic, proactive supporter and advocate of local charities. Her support as Mayor has been very valuable to Skillway and the young people that we serve. Her interest and support goes well beyond this last year, which highlights her dedication and passion for supporting her local community. We wish her nothing but the best in the future, and have no doubt her positive impact will endure for many years to come.”
Adam Samson Headteacher at Godalming Junior School has shared
“Thank you Penny for all you do to continue to support the children of the local area so that they can enjoy all that a full, inclusive education should offer. Thank you for supporting our school by seeking external funding for our most vulnerable children, and for generally being a torchbearer for young people and a compassionate public servant.”
This is echoed by Lizzi Matthews Head teacher at Broadwater Secondary School.
“What stands out most about Penny is her genuine warmth, care, and commitment to young people. She does not simply attend events; she makes each child feel valued, celebrated, and proud of what they have achieved, and as a school community, we are so grateful for all she has done to support us.”
Lizzie Matthews, Head Teacher, Broadwater Secondary School
And lastly, simply because there are too many to include, Charlie Watts, Chief Executive of Pride in Surrey explained
“As a staunch advocate for justice and equality, Penny has been a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in Surrey. Her friends at Pride in Surrey, and many LGBTQ+ people in Waverley, Surrey and beyond have been touched by her continuous display of solidarity with the cause of equality for all.”
All this during a challenging time of change in local Government
Penny achieved all of this for her community during, what I’m sure we can all agree, has been an exceptional, uncertain and busy time in local government. During all the talk of unitaries, of taking on debt from other boroughs, and of course, potholes; Penny did not falter in supporting those that she served with compassion.
Thank you for a year of hard work in office as Mayor of Waverley. A door closing is always sad, but many people from across the borough will be heartened to have recently learned that you will soon become West Surrey’s first Chairperson.
Congratulations, and may you continue to encourage so many people to, like you, be ‘Good Citizens’.
Thank you
