The Mayor's Week
The Mayor's Report
By tradition the ceremony of Mayor Making has generally been held on a Saturday in the Magistrates’ Courts but this year it was felt that we should have a change and the ceremony took place on Friday evening in the Main Hall. Once the formalities had been completed my guests went down stairs to have a glass of champagne whilst the room was being miraculously transformed for the reception by Kevin, Nick and Sarah, Ben and Richard from the Full Moon. Our guests were more than impressed with the speed of the whole operation and of course the terrific food. So my sincerest thanks to all those who helped to make this possible. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and all enjoyed themselves.
The following day 17th May my duties as they 635th Mayor of Wells began. The Wessex Reserve Force and Cadets Association held a parade on the green followed by a service in the Cathedral which was a spectacular event. The following morning I was up early to attend Mayor’s Sunday at Glastonbury. In the afternoon The Classic and Historic Motor Club held their annual get-together on Cathedral Green where I was invited to choose the car which I would most like to take home. This was no easy task but in the end I chose a Morris Minor convertible after which I presented some trophies and was treated to a cream tea.
I was then off to Spain on holiday with the family, and our Deputy Mayor, Cllr John Parkes, represented the City on my behalf at several events whilst I was away. During the Mayoral year there are often occasions when the Mayor is double booked and whilst the invitations within the City take priority the Deputy Mayor is often asked to represent the City in other towns.
Rested from the holiday I was anxious to take up the Mayoral duties again and this began with the Hillard Society who exhibit miniature paintings in the Town Hall. The amount of detail that the artists put into these very small pictures is amazing. 1st June with my Consort I attended the service of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset in the Cathedral after having had a wonderful tea at Vicars’ Hall.
It was quiet for a few days which allowed me to catch up with Lizzie Webb who looks after the Mayor’s diary, which I must say it's not an easy task and to have a chat with Keith the Town Clerk about organizing future events.
The 8th June saw the Riley Motor Club showing their proud exhibits on Cathedral Green and on this occasion I was escorted by Neil Leverton. I think I must explain why I am being escorted by so many different men! As my family run three businesses in Wells and I have a rather elderly father who needs the family’s attention, Joe, my husband, is not always available to escort me to some of the Mayoral events. However I am spoilt for choice as all the Councillors have offered to support me when Joe is not available.
On the following Monday we had a visit to the Mayor’s Parlour from the student council of Stoberry Park School. They came to see where Wells City Council conduct their meetings and to learn about the history of the ceremonial insignia used on these and other civic occasions. The Town Clerk and I explained the workings of the Council’s policies and procedures and answered any questions. We then asked them if they would like to visit the court and cells which I think this was the highlight of the visit. They then returned to the Parlour for drinks and biscuits. During this visit we also had the opportunity to welcome two exchange teachers from Ghana, Victor and Joseph, who had just arrived in the country that morning to work with the children for the next two weeks and I was as thrilled as they were that their visit should coincided with that of the school.
Nerves run high for a new Mayor’s first City Council meeting. However, the Council went through the agenda in what might have been record time until I asked if there was any other business! There was. I have no doubt that my colleagues eased me in to my first meeting, but I am under no illusion that this could change in the course of the year.
Friday the 13th I was invited to the Old Deanery Garden Project Quinncentenary Celebration for an evening reception of pink champagne and strawberries and which was again a splendid occasion.
The following day was The Somerset Dance Festival held annually on the Cathedral Green. The “chains” as we call the Mayors and Chairmen from all over Somerset, met for lunch in the Little Theatre whilst the children and their parents had picnics around St Cuthbert’s church. From there we all processed up the High Street and on to Cathedral Green. It is estimated there were 1700 children, all well behaved, none lost and some celebrating their birthdays. The children took their places and the dignitaries took theirs whilst the sun shone in a bright blue sky – an idyllic setting. At the end of this the dignitaries were invited to dance with the children which they did with enthusiasm. It was a brilliant day, very colorful, very happy and hopefully there were some very tired children. I can tell you that some of the dignitaries were also quite tired by the end of the day but were revived with jelly and a cream tea. It is always the Mayor of Wells who hosts these occasions and inevitably gets the praise and thanks, but it has to be remembered that behind every Mayor there is a team of helpers. So my thanks to Councillors, friends, family, members of staff at the Town Hall and partners for the time and effort they put in from making scones and jelly to pouring teas and washing up. Lastly but certainly by no means least my thanks to the organizers, Somerset Association of Primary Head Teachers and Officers who did a wonderful job and it was obviously good exercise for the man in the straw hat.
It's been a busy first month of my Mayoral Year, I am looking at my diary and there is another busy but I am sure enjoyable month ahead.