Agenda item - Mayor's Thanks and Presentations

The Mayor will give thanks for his year in office and make presentations.

4.1      The Mayor stated:

Before I move to the formal process for appointing the new Mayor, I would like to say a few words about my year in office and to acknowledge the support I have received as Mayor.

Just over two years ago, at the back end of February, early March 2020, Minna, Elaine and myself were busy making plans for my mayor making and reception, checking the civic list to see who was no longer with us and making a note of family and friends to invite. Val’s brother who lives in Cambridge and has a way with words sent us a message which said, “I hear you got that snake flu down your way” and Councillor Atkinson who was on holiday in Spain at the time said that he and his wife had left their hotel but had been sent back by police and told not to come out again, just early signs of what was to come.

Then on the 23rd March 2020, as John Lennon once said “cor the blimees” I was chair of the TECC committee and remember the shock as the pubs, clubs and non-essential shops all closed, the swimming pools, the gyms, the theatres, the music venues, the cinemas, the museums and even the Royal Pavilion and the football ground, all shut to the public.

We had our first experience of zoom or teams or whatever it was to discuss CPP2, which I believe Alex chaired, then on the 14th May 2020, I became Mayor, in an empty room with just Geoff Raw and Councillor Mears for company.

After that we had to learn a whole new way of doing things, the zoom way, not all bad. Of all the names on these walls I bet I am the only one to have chaired a council meeting in his pyjama bottoms and slippers, but the endless repeating of Councillor McCafferty, can you confirm the Green group wish to vote for or against, Cllr Platts, can you confirm the Labour group wish to vote for or against, Cllr Bell, can you confirm the  Conservative group, wish to vote for or against and then all the Independents was tiresome to say the least, but we made the very best of it. I have chaired seventeen full council meetings in the last two years, probably a record for recent times, not one with a full house in person.

It’s been an odd couple of years and I thank you all for allowing me a second year and for the kindness and goodwill you have all shown me over that time. The last thing I want is for my entire mayoralty to be dominated and defined by covid and covid restrictions. Over the course of two years we have found ample time to enjoy the role of Mayor and at times being able to meet online has meant we have met more groups and individuals than we could have done in person. I had the great good fortune to appoint the Interfaith Contact Group as my chaplain for the two years and I thank Anthea and Martin for their friendship, good humour and support throughout the time, it meant I met many of the Interfaith Group and attended their online meetings, The Ba’has and the Buddhist, the Pagans and the Quakers and many more, all gave me an insight into their faiths and I hope we as a council can find a way to continue this and build up a greater understanding of how our community and its different and diverse groups live and work together.

I was also able to join many council team meetings and thank them all for their continued efforts and let them know that we as councillors appreciated them.

I would like to thank my consort Val Cawley, who was extremely nervous at first at taking on the role but has grown into it with the intelligence and charm she has always possessed, we also got married during this time after a mere 37 years of living together.

Robbie Robertson, the Mayor’s chauffeur, although due to a hand operation there was a time when I was the chauffeurs’ chauffeur, Robbie also acts as tour guide, Mayor’s photographer, dresser and timekeeper, so don’t ever think of getting rid of him, and Mikolaj our relief chauffeur for all his support when called upon.

I must thank Minna and Elaine for their help in keeping me in line and again for their kindness and good humour throughout everything.

The retired and new Lord Lieutenant, Peter Field and Andrew Blackman as well as vice Lord Lieutenant Sara Stonor and the many deputy Lieutenants I met for their support and kind words.

I would like to thank my five charities, The Fringe, Leo house at home, The Sussex heart charity, Off the fence and Together Co. for sticking with me, my only regret is we haven’t been able to hold as many events as we had hoped.

One of the great joys, privilege and honours of being Mayor is the wonderful people you meet, everywhere you go there are people happy to see you, all who give their time so freely, most of the time with very little recognition, volunteers who in some cases have worked with their groups for more than 50 years and without whose help the city could not carry on.

I have also met some whose names you will know, Peter James was an absolute delight and answered questions and signed books for guests for more than an hour, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who spoke and answered questions at St Peters church, Nicky Weller, Paul’s sister was so warm and welcoming and Mohamadou Ould Slahi, who was held in Guantanamo Bay for 14 years without trial and without knowing what he was accused of, he was tortured and beaten and although his release was ordered in 2010, he was held for a further six years and yet he was the most dignified, mild mannered and forgiving man I have ever met.

I have so, so enjoyed my time as Mayor but finally must say a few words about Cllr Mary Mears, who as you all know should have become Mayor today but is too ill to take up the appointment, I have a natural affinity with anyone called Mary, I had an aunty Mary, my dear sister Mary, who died of covid last year, a niece Rachel Mary and a great niece Mary, all strong, independent uncompromising women, all with hearts of gold, who would give you their last halfpenny if they thought you needed it and I think Mary Mears falls into the same category. I know how much Mary was looking forward to becoming Mayor and it would have been a great swansong for someone who has given so much to the civic life of the city, I ask you all to think of her and wish her a speedy and full recovery.

The office of Mayor is a truly worthwhile and fulfilling office, it represents all that is good about the city, it presents to the people the very best of the council, I have nothing but admiration and praise for those who have been Mayors in the past and wish all the very best to all who take on the role in the future. To any of you who doubt this, I say, take the time to go to an event where the Mayor is present and see how well people react to them, it is a great honour and privilege to feel that welcome and warmth and I thank you all again for giving me the opportunity.

I am really sorry that not all the past Mayors and other Guests were able to attend in person this year due to our restricted numbers because of Covid. I do look forward to the tradition of past Mayors and Aldermen and women and other distinguished guests attending in person again next year when I hope we no longer have Covid restrictions in place.

I would now like to ask Val to come forward to be presented with her commemorative badge and flowers.

I would like to invite Anthea Ballam to come forward on behalf of the Inter-Faith Group to receive their flowers. Thank you.