Watch Councillor Edgar ^{(26/02/2013 03:48pm)}

Councillor Edgar has been speaking at full Council and Cabinet meetings

Councillor Edgar spoke about Hampshire County Council's budget at the Cabinet meeting, broadcast live on the internet on 8 February. Watch Councillor Edgar speaking in Cabinet.

Councillor Edgar also spoke on the same topic at the full Council meeting, broadcast on 21 February. Watch Councillor Edgar speaking in Council.

Handel's Organ Celebratory Recital ^{(06/11/2012 04:10pm)}

Councillor Edgar was invited to attend the recital at Holy Trinity Church, Gosport in his capacity as Hampshire County Councillor

Councillor Edgar said

"The Handel's Organ Celebratory Recital held at Holy Trinity Church, Gosport, was a truly remarkable event that will live long in the memory of all those who were privileged to experience it. It was the first formal recital played on the historic organ since its £200,000 restoration project. The composer Handel influenced its original design and played it regularly when he was the 'musician in residence' to the Duke of Chandos. This recital was an amazing, unique and historic experience for the large audience that filled the 319 year old church. Appropriately it featured music composed between the 1720's to the 1980's.

"In the first half of the programme we were able to listen to the sounds of authentic organ music using the same parts of the original organ, exactly as it was played and heard 300 years ago. Then in the second half of the programme the entire organ, as originally restored and enhanced by the Victorians in 1897, was dramatically brought into use.

"All this music was brilliantly played by the nationally acclaimed organist of Winchester Cathedral, Andrew Lumsden, who demonstrated his incredible talent to bring the very best out of this historic instrument.

"The whole project that restored this national treasure involved many people. It has been led by Geoffrey Holroyde, the Holy Trinity Church Director of Music, who was backed strongly by Dr. Carey Bowker. Our music loving nation owes a great debt to them and those, not only across Hampshire but across the country, who supported the restoration by their contributions.

"Holy Trinity is a beautiful church which can now again be filled with this magnificent sound which will bring atmosphere to worshippers and pleasure to music lovers the world over."

Conference puts national curriculum in the spotlight ^{(18/10/2012 11:03am)}

Councillor Edgar attended a special conference organised by Hampshire County Council to examine developments to the national curriculum.

As well as examining potential developments to the national curriculum strategies already being used in Hampshire schools to support pupils' learning were highlighted

Commenting on the conference Councillor Peter Edgar, Assistant Executive Member for Education, who was among the delegates, said:

"This was a truly inspirational conference and a fine example of how Hampshire County Council takes the lead in keeping schools informed on new developments and new trends in educational thinking ensuring they can continue to deliver education of the highest quality to the children of Hampshire."

Read the full press release.

History made on historic site ^{(15/10/2012 09:53am)}

On the historic site of Haslar a unique partnership of local organisations has made happen an exciting educational project.

For probably the first time in history a unique partnership in the town has enabled a workshop to open for students to learn about the building of cars and have the opportunity to build their own and drive them!

Councillor Peter Edgar opened the new facility and said “This is the future of education”. He expressed delight that such an exciting thing was happening at a place that has been so much a part of his life for so long now. He pledged the support of Hampshire County Council for a project that sees partnership working happening for the good of the young people in the town.

At the Opening Ceremony, Ian Potter, Headteacher of Bay House School and Chair of the Gosport College Executive, explained that the workshop comes about as a result of the support of the company Our Enterprise and many other partners such as Fareham College. Staff from Gosport College and the Enterprise Academy will be providing tuition to students of the Enterprise Academy who have the opportunity to build and drive their own off-road cars.

Jake Dowling (14), formerly of Bay House School and Leeson Moore (15), formerly of Brune Park School, now both students at the Enterprise Academy spoke at the Opening Ceremony saying how much they were looking forward to being able to ‘get their hands dirty’ and learning to understand cars in a real garage location. “Actually, I think I am as excited as the kids” said Darren Male, Manager of the Enterprise Academy. “This is an awesome opportunity and just shows what can be achieved if people work together”.

Andy Feculak, Director of Our Enterprise, spoke of his delight and commented that he anticipated that bigger things will result from this initial beginning. Nigel Duncan, Principal of Fareham College, endorsed his comments and the importance of projects like this in Gosport to encourage more young people to have a confidence in developing work based engineering skills.