31 October 2023

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

The month began with the opening of the new Lions Charity book shop in Martells. This is a fantastic local resource, helping re-use old books, provide affordable books, and raise funds for the Lions. The generosity of Martells is truly appreciated for making this venture possible.

I was then honoured to be made a Rotarian and give a talk to the Rotary Club about my career as a councillor and time as Mayor.

Later that week, I had the joy of officially opening the new Stone Quarry Cafe at its new home in Stone Quarry. This great local facility looks amazing in its new home, and the partnership between MSDC, Clarion, and Sarah is to be applauded for bringing it to life. I was joined in the opening by our MP, Mims Davies, and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant.

As Mayor, you are president of several charities, and I therefore involved myself with their AGMs this month: Grenestede Talking News, Disability Access, and EGMAF. It’s always humbling to hear more about the amazing work our local charities do, and a pleasure to meet their members and the people they help.

On the 17th, I had my Civic Service at St Swithuns. This had been an event I was really looking forward to, and it didn’t fail to deliver. The church was full with friends, family, dignitaries, and fellow councillors. The service was beautiful and meaningful to me.

The following week was the first of my solo charity fundraisers, a quiz night. The night was a sellout and even had a waiting list! The quiz was run by Cllr Belsey, who was fantastic! My wonderful wife did the catering to keep costs down; she was incredible, and I don’t know how she did it! The event was a huge success, and we raised over £1000 for my charity. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Later that week, we had the Macmillan coffee morning at the hospital, and I attended to open the event and judge the cakes! Being Mayor can be a tough job, but cake always helps!