Outgoing mayor Cllr Sayonara Luxton undertook her last official engagement on Monday - and it was a very personal one for her.

Cllr Luxton presented a cheque for £40,194 to the charity she has supported throughout her 19-month term as Royal Borough mayor, at a socially distanced ceremony at the new state-of-the-art Thames Hospice in Windsor Road, Maidenhead.

She had raised the money for the hospice by hosting and participating in a variety of charitable events throughout her term.

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Councillor Luxton said: “I started fundraising in 2019 with the ‘Steam Dreams’ steam train trip on the Windsor Express. This was followed by other fundraising events such as afternoon tea, a Christmas meal and entertainment and Christmas wreath making.

“Then of course COVID-19 hit, lockdown happened and I was asked if I would agree to my term of office being extended for another six months.

“I was determined to keep raising money for the hospice throughout, so we embraced socially distanced opportunities such as an appeal for scrubs, a special online auction and taking part in the annual Santa Dash.”

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Debbie Raven, chief executive at Thames Hospice, said: “We are so grateful to the Mayor for her incredible support of and dedication to Thames Hospice during her term of office.

"The money she has raised is phenomenal and will make a huge difference. It felt very special to welcome Councillor Luxton to the new hospice on her last official engagement as mayor.”

*Cllr Luxton handed over as mayor to Ascot and Sunninghill councillor John Story at Tuesday's council meeting this week.

Cllr Graeme Muir who represents Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury remains as deputy mayor.