It has given me immense pleasure to serve as Mayor of Great Aycliffe for the past year, I have found out a lot about Great Aycliffe and myself. My Mayoress, Elaine, and I have thrown ourselves into the community and beyond with fervour and enthusiasm. As a couple we have spread the word from Yorkshire to Northumberland about the advantages of living and working in the town that we love.
It is gratifying to see the variety of community groups that we have in Aycliffe from coffee morning gatherings to 5 Acres, Wishing Well Club and Together 21. We have met some wonderful people doing amazing things for our town and have tried to support where we could.
Our Churches and Clergy have also been an inspiration to us as we worked together on Civic Services, attended Nativity Plays and Carol Services.
Of course, being Mayor and Mayoress has also given us the opportunity to attend Civic occasions across the region and make firm friends with other civic dignitaries of all political persuasions many of whom will remain friends long after we leave our posts.
I would like to thank all of the Town Council Staff who have supported us during our year, Town and County Councillors who have always been supportive and particularly Arun Chandran who took on the mantle of surrogate leader when I wasn’t available. His steady hand and experience has been a great help.
There have been many people who have been kind to us during our tenure and Paul Howarth has been a stalwart supporter, printing my little stories of things that matter in Newton Aycliffe, giving a glimpse of the life and work of the Mayor.
As I hand over the chains of office to my successor I hope that he will continue promoting all of the good things which we have in our parish and take our good wishes and support with you.