Haven News Network sits down with Felicity Cookson, Business Leader and Philanthropist.
Miranda Knox: Good evening, Havensport. I’m Miranda Knox, and tonight we’re speaking with a figure whose work has touched countless lives in this city. Her name is on the lips of many as the next leader of Havensport. Please welcome, Felicity Cookson.
Felicity Cookson: Thank you, Miranda. It’s a pleasure to join you under such... illuminating circumstances.
Miranda Knox: Felicity, you’ve made an indelible mark on this city, particularly in Thornwood. Your work at the Sanctuary has been nothing short of transformative. What drives you to dedicate yourself so fully to these communities?
Felicity Cookson: Cities are like living things, Miranda. They grow, they change, they breathe. Thornwood is a place with old roots, deep roots. You can feel it in the air. I couldn’t ignore the call to nurture that potential, to help it flourish again. The work we do at the Sanctuary is part of that—offering people a place to feel safe, to rediscover their strength. Everyone deserves the chance to stand tall again.
Miranda Knox: And you’ve certainly given them that chance. The Sanctuary has become a lifeline for so many women, offering them hope where there was none. What inspired you to create such a refuge?
Felicity Cookson: Thornwood has always been a place of power. The women who come to us, they carry their own strength, even if they’ve forgotten it. We just offer them a place to remember. It's about more than shelter; it’s about helping them reconnect with what was always within them.
Miranda Knox: It’s clear that your work has had a profound impact. But on a broader scale, the city seems to be struggling under Mayor Taylor’s leadership. Crime is rising, the economy is in freefall, and there are whispers of corruption. What’s your view on the current state of Havensport?
Felicity Cookson: Mayor Taylor... he’s allowed the city to drift, hasn’t he? It’s like watching a garden overrun with weeds. You can’t just let it fester and hope the flowers grow on their own. The people of Havensport feel it too. They see the cracks, they smell the rot. Trust in his leadership is... withering, I’d say. And trust, once it’s gone, is very difficult to restore.
Miranda Knox: You’re right, Felicity. It feels like Havensport is crying out for change, for someone who truly understands its needs. Mayor Taylor’s administration has been plagued with accusations—backroom deals, secret contracts. What would you say to the growing calls for new leadership?
Felicity Cookson: Change is inevitable, Miranda. We cannot cling to something that no longer serves the people. Havensport needs new blood, someone who understands its rhythms, its history, and can steer it back to health. You can’t grow something strong on a rotting foundation.
Miranda Knox: The people certainly seem to think you could be that person. We’ve been hearing your name more and more as a potential candidate for mayor. Doug Palmer, a respected business owner in Brightside, had this to say.
Doug Palmer (pre-recorded clip): Mayor Taylor? The guy’s been a ghost at City Hall for months. No one sees him, and when they do, he’s doing the same song and dance. Crime’s up, businesses are sinking, and he’s nowhere to be found. Felicity Cookson, though? She’s here. She’s present. She knows what this city needs. You ask me, we need someone like her running this place.
Miranda Knox: Doug’s words seem to echo what so many others are saying. How does it feel to know the people of Havensport are looking to you for leadership?
Felicity Cookson: The people of Havensport are wise, Miranda. They see through the illusion. I’m humbled by their trust, truly. But trust comes with responsibility. The city is calling for change, and if that’s the path the people wish to take, then who am I to ignore that call?
Miranda Knox: Many would say you’re exactly the person to answer that call. If you were to step into the role of mayor, what would be your priorities?
Felicity Cookson: The first step is truth. The people of Havensport deserve transparency. No more hidden dealings, no more whispered agreements. We bring everything to the light. Once trust is restored, the city will follow—businesses will return, the economy will grow, and the crime... well, that requires understanding the deeper needs of the city. But it can be done. Havensport can heal, and I know how to start.
Miranda Knox: It’s a beautiful vision, Felicity. One that many of us would love to see come to life. Do you think you’ll be stepping into the mayoral race?
Felicity Cookson: Power for power’s sake is never the goal. But if the people call for me, how could I refuse? I’ve always believed we must rise to the occasion when the time is right. And I think the time is coming.
Miranda Knox: It certainly feels that way. Felicity, you’ve given Havensport so much hope, and it’s clear that your leadership would bring the city exactly what it needs. Thank you for your time today. Any final thoughts for the people watching?
Felicity Cookson: Only this—do not be afraid of change. It’s the way we grow, the way we thrive. Havensport has deep roots, and together, we can help it bloom again. We’ll rebuild, stronger than before.
Miranda Knox: Felicity Cookson, thank you so much. I know the people of Havensport are behind you, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds with you at the helm.
Felicity Cookson: Thank you, Miranda. It’s always a pleasure.
Miranda Knox (to camera): That was Felicity Cookson, a woman whose vision and compassion have touched every corner of our city. As we continue to watch Mayor Taylor’s administration struggle, it’s clear that Felicity’s leadership would be a breath of fresh air for Havensport. I’m Miranda Knox, and this has been a special interview on Havensport News. Goodnight.
