Mayor's year end speech

Delivered by me on 19 May 2011 as outgoing Mayor of Wakefield at the Annual Council Meeting.

Last week I attended the rehearsal for today’s event. Just a year ago I was created Mayor and as I recall that mayor making a year does not seem to be a long time. But when I look at all the events that happened during that year at which I and the Mayoress were present the year was a long and superb time.

It has been an exciting, memorable and interesting, to discover what goes on in our district and beyond, to meet those people who are making a difference to the lives of others, and during our lovely summer to say I bring the sunshine with me.

Now in this speech I am going to give a few examples but they are only a few and much has been left out. I don’t want to keep you here all day.

When I was deputy mayor I identified four themes of the mayor during the coming year.

There were the soldiers of whom we are all proud. The main event I remember is the exercising of the freedom of the city right to march by the Rifles on September 11^th. The support for our troops by our citizens is warming, and I had decided that one of the Mayor’s charities be the Army Benevolent Fund, now known as the Soldiers’ Charity.

Another theme is to highlight those who are helping others in their own way. There are many cases of this going on in all our wards. We all have the means to help others less fortunate. Whether it is fund raising for the hospices or Dr Jacksons or devoting time to volunteer or whatever other means, it is all appreciated. This includes galas, which give good memories for years to come.

 Then there are our young people. They get complained about but actually a lot of them do good deeds. In my year the guides’ centenary came to a close, finishing in a mass renewing of their promises at which I was pleased to be present. There are the scouts and the cadets whom I visited too and some visited the Mayor’s parlour.

I was pleased to hand out the bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards to those young people who achieved that and to those young people that achieved the Mayor’s award.

The visits to primary schools are a delight. Children ask such interesting and often unexpected questions. “No, I don’t have a driver because I’m too old to drive. “

Young people also feature in the fourth theme. The showcasing of the talent we have within our district.  I have enjoyed all the shows and concerts, both professional and amateur, that I have seen during the year. The acting and performing is a delight to watch. Then there are the art exhibitions.

So much is going on the district.

Last year many people, within the district and outside, told me how proud I must be to be the Mayor when the Hepworth opens. Well the publicity did say opening spring 2011. So, I was disappointed when I found out it will be opening two days after I end as Mayor. It’s a good start to the new mayor’s year.

Now, I nearly forgot one of my favourite bits I enjoyed, chairing the council meeting. Yes, I have enjoyed that. It may have been stressful at times but it truly has been enjoyable. The support given to the mayor by all councillors is a credit to Wakefield.

During the year I met some teachers from China who told me that Wakefield must be a lucky place because its Mayor wears gold and red, a combination considered to be a sign of good luck and good health.

I must thank you for supporting the Mayor. In a world that is changing so quickly it is important that we keep traditions that remind us of our heritage. I thank all those who over the year as Mayor and Mayoress and the previous year as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress have supported Doreen and me.  Thanks to those who have supported the Mayor’s charity, the other charity to benefit is the Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals Trust patients charity.

I thank Father David for his valued contributions and an excellent sermon at the Civic Service and to the various churches that hat have me over the year including, of course, the cathedral.

It has been a good year, an exciting year.