Finding my feet

It's strange but at times people come up to and shake your hand and say "congratulations" or "well done" and you are wondering what they are talking about, before you suddenly realise that they are talking about you being Mayor of Clitheroe.

It's not that I forgot I am mayor or anything it's just that at other times you find yourself wondering about other stuff such as work, the technicalities of my golf swing or will Fergie play Ryan Giggs and Christiano Ronaldo in the Cup Final?

This last week and a bit, has been very busy.

It started off with a trip to Colne to support the Mayor of Pendle's Greek evening. The evening was very enjoyable, with one minor snag - getting roped into the Greek dancing when I was only one of two people on the floor - very embarrassing.

Tuesday saw me out and about as a mere councillor to propose the election of my ward colleague and good friend Mary Robinson as Mayor of Clitheroe.

Mary, a Liberal Democrat councillor was delighted when I told the throng that she would make friends on all sides as she had once won the Sabden Conservatives Bonny Baby competition.

On Saturday I attended the Crossroads coffee morning.

Crossroads are a super organisation and if you get the chance to support them please do.

This week on Monday evening was the first council meeting that I have chaired as mayor.

Luckily the agenda and the meeting was short.

Tuesday saw Sue and I have our official portrait taken and Wednesday found us at an interesting AGM held by the local Scouts.

It was only when I was going through the paperwork for the meeting that I discovered I was Vice President.

There are several honoray Presidentships and Vice-Presidentships that the mayor has – I will let you know what they are as I find them.

The Mayor and Mayoress receive guests at the mayoral lunch 

Enter the mayor

Well it is now official!

I am the Mayor of Clitheroe.

The charities that we are supporting are the local mountain rescue team and epilepsy projects in the area.

Luckily the weather held out for us and the Halberdiers and Town Sergeant didn't get hit by lightning - though in the words of the Duke of Wellington: "It was a damn close run thing."

We have had a fantastic week since including lots of visits from relatives and friends (some from as far away as Washington DC) who all came for the main event.

"Prosperation to the Corporation", the toast taken by all new comers to a Clitheroe Mayor-making, involving drinking a punch made from a secret old recipe was a success with all of those taking it for the first time.

Since then we have carried out our first two engagements, including a visit from French school children to the town hall and and attending the Padiham Mayor-making.

I am promised more pictures of the my Mayor-making day soon and on Wednesday I head to Pendle for a function.

Watch this space....