EVESHAM’S new mayor has pledged to restore ‘manners and respect’ to town council meetings.
Councillor John Clatworthy was unanimously elected to the historic position at the annual mayor making ceremony at All Saints Church on Monday (May 12).
A packed church saw more than 150 individuals watch retiring mayor, Coun Robert Raphael, hand over the chains of office to the new incumbent.
They also witnessed councillors vote in favour of appointing Coun Bill Kimberley to deputy mayor.
Fellow town councillor Marion Griffiths will continue for another year as mayoress.
Coun Clatworthy, who won his Little Hampton seat in a by-election three years ago, thanked his fellow councillors for the ‘faith and trust’ they had put in and added he felt ‘extremely honoured’ to be appointed and be able to contribute ‘in a small way’ to the rich history of the town.
The audience was then addressed directly with an apology for the ‘infighting’ and issues with councillors’ behaviour over the past 12 months. He said: “It would be foolish for any members of this council to deny that this past year has been a difficult time.”
Speaking directly to colleagues, urged them to ‘be responsible representatives of the community who elected us to serve them’.
He alluded to ‘strained relations between members’ and added: “In a perfect world, we would all respect one another, accept that others have opinions that differ from our own, and discuss these differences and change minds or agree to differ.
“Of course, this world is not perfect, and people are not always that easy to manage, but during this next year, I am going to work my hardest to restore manners and respect to our meetings.
“So, as we move to a new municipal year, let us take the opportunity to draw a line under what has been and start anew.”
He finished his speech and said: “I cannot promise to solve every issue within our town over the next twelve months… but I can promise this and hope my fellow councillors will do likewise.
“I am going to do the very best I can for this town and this community.”
He chose Caring Hands in the Vale, Evesham Volunteer Centre and Evesham Dementia Action Alliance as his charities for the year ahead.
The ceremony ended on an uplifting note with a performance of modern classics by Rock Choir, under the beguiling musical direction of Jacob Ashworth, before guests and councillors retired to the town hall for a civic reception.
