Freeman of the Borough Awards

Former Gobions Avenue Post Master, Sunny Jasraj was honoured at the Town Hall last night and received his Freeman of the Borough Award, along with long serving Councillors; Cllr Barbara Matthews (R.A) and Cllr Peter Gardner (Cons) and former Councillor Maisie Whitelock.

Below is my speech in relation to Sunny;

Mr Mayor, ladies and gentleman, fellow Councillors, I feel very privileged to be nominating Mr Sunny Jasraj as a freeman of the London Borough of Havering on behalf of the Residents Association Group and Havering Council.

Sunny, as he is know to everyone, was the post master of the Gobions Avenue Post Office for almost 25 years, he has served the community in that time, not just as the man at the post office, but as a friend, employee, local campaigner and opinion former. He is a pillar of the community, to all of our residents, young and old, from around Collier Row, Chase Cross and Havering-Atte-Bower.

I recall before I was first elected in 2002, highlighting the dreadful state of the former Council garage site behind the post office with Sunny, being pictured together amongst the derelict site and burnt out cars, much was his determination to help clean up the area.

That old site is now gone and eight affordable houses have been built in its place, along with an investment from the house sales being put into the park next door, allowing £50k of investment to be used for new children’s play equipment.

The sad part of tonight’s event, is Sunny was not able to make his 25 year anniversary, due to the terrible decision of this Government and Post Office Ltd in deciding to close his branch, along with four others in our Borough.

Something, I know every member of this Council feels strongly about, I am sure we all know how these closures for Havering have affected our most elderly and vulnerable within our community.

Sunny has brought consistency and loyalty to both his shop and the community, in over 50 years, Sunny is only the third post master of Gobions Avenue, first coming to Collier Row in August 1984, when I was just 13 years old !!

Mr Mayor, as a Councillor for Collier Row, it is a great privilege to present to you tonight, on behalf of Havering Council, Mr Sunny Jasraj as a Freeman of this Borough.