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One Year as Mayor of Dover 2015-16 then Deputy Mayor 2016-17
27 mins ·
For those who missed it, my closing speech for the Mayoral year.
I would like to start by thanking my proposer, Cllr Walkden, and my seconder, Cllr Wright, and those who voted for me for making this last year possible. My thanks also go to my cadet, Olivia Moroney, and my Chaplain, Rev John walker, for providing their invaluable support. Large thanks must also go to Allison, Diana, Tracey, Sharon, Karen, Mark, Angela, David and Jim whose enormous workload and professionalism makes it all work and too often gets underappreciated and misrepresented. Without the hardworking staff, always prepared to answer questions and sort out the details, the rest of us would be out in the cold with nothing getting done. Thank you all. And a big thank you must go to my Mayoress, my wife Stephanie, for her constant support and assistance over so many late nights and early mornings.
Over the last twelve months the council has put in place our new far-reaching four-year Ambition Plan, we have installed new memorial benches, supported the formation of a new branch of the Royal British Legion for Dover, the town it was originally founded in, started work on improving the planters through the High Street, made many improvements to the allotments, organised the Remembrance Day and Zeebrugge commemorations as well as the Christmas Lights switch-on. At the same time, we have considered and supported a great many grant applications from a wide variety of bodies and small groups working for the benefit of our town.
Meanwhile I have managed to cover a lot of the county and beyond, from Margate to Winchelsea, representing and talking up the town while listening to and learning from the projects of other towns. It was also my honour to represent Dover at the commemorations for the 1918 Zeebrugge Raid in Zeebrugge then welcome the good people of Belgium to our own town. After seeing them on their home ground it was a particular pleasure to have their Scout Band attend our commemorations and then give a superb free concert in our Town Hall.
Dover has a lot going for it on the musical front and I have had the pleasure of attending many fine performances, a flute concert in St. Edmunds Chapel was not only good it was an excellent showcase for this fine example of Dover’s rich heritage. One performance stands out and the thanks for it must go to Mr Stephen Yarrow. Following the atrocities in Paris he managed to put together a full choral requiem in less than two days that was not only a very fitting tribute to the victims of the horror but also an almost flawless performance.
In and around Dover itself it has been a distinct pleasure to be a part of the openings for a new plaque and exhibition for Operation Dynamo and the opening to visitors of the Fan Bay Deep Shelter on Langdon Cliffs. I have also seen the relaunch and anniversaries of local businesses showing that Dover is alive and well and that people still have confidence in the town.
Over a year that too often saw Dover as a target for those who wanted to battle out their disagreements in our streets my biggest thanks for the year go to the people of Dover. During the senseless violence of the 30th January I was heartened to see many examples of our residents helping the elderly, disabled and each other to be safe and cared for. From boot fairs to Hellfire Corner Weekend, From the Dover Lions Publicans walk to the many charities and carer’s events it is the people of Dover that have shined through and I thank you all for an incredible year.