EVESHAM’S newly-installed Mayor overcame an out-of-order lift at the town hall to take up office.
Quick-thinking town council staff wasted no time in moving the annual mayor making ceremony to nearby All Saints Church when engineers were unable to repair the lift.
More than 100 people filled the church to see outgoing Mayor Coun Alan Booth hand over the ancient chain of office to Evesham’s new Mayor, Coun Robert Raphael.
During the ceremony, Coun Booth thanked his Mayoress Chrissy Smith for all of her support and handed out cheques for £2,000 to the mayor’s chosen charities – Evesham Shopmobilty, Working World and Garage Art Group.
Local charity-workers Kerry Wood and Kyle Hotchkins were joint winners of the Mayor’s Civic Award.
Kerry organises the charity Evesham Defibrilators while Kyle organises Claus for a Cause, supporting families in need at Christmas time.
Coun Raphael took on the role of Evesham Mayor for a third time after former Deputy Mayor Sarah Scaathun was unable to take on the position.
Coun Raphael has just completed a year as Chairman of Wychavon District Council, commemorating the district’s 50th anniversary with 191 engagements across all 77 parishes which make up the authority’s area.
Coun Raphael used his acceptance speech to make an apology on behalf of the council to the people of Evesham for the town council’s behaviour in recent years and promised to work his hardest to restore respect to council debate.
“We have suffered with strained relations between members resulting in several resignations and because of this unhealthy distraction we have not been the effective council the people of Evesham deserve.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry that our in-fighting has embarrassed you and sorry that our issues has drained the time of councillors and council staff, time which could have been better spent serving the people of Evesham.”
Coun Raphael’s Mayor’s Charity Appeal will this year support Evesham Adventure Playground, Ourside Youth Centre and Wallace House Community Centre, with a number of fundraising events already planned for the year ahead.
Coun Raphael pledged that Evesham Town Council must pressure the district and county council over the state of The Riverside Shopping Centre, the town’s traffic issues and the completion of the cycle route from Common Road to Evesham Country Park.
Coun Raphael is joined by fellow town councillor Marion Griffiths, who takes on the role of Mayoress and used her appointment to launch a literacy support project for people with reading difficulties in Evesham.
Former RAF PT Instructor, Coun John Clatworthy, was re-elected Deputy Mayor and his consort will be Coun Emma Stokes.
