Concordia 2025

Concordia Winter 2024

Class Notes

54

Mayor of Aylesbury: Alan Sherwell (1963–1969) Aylesbury is a town of some 78,000 people. In May each year Its Mayor is elected by the Town Council from its 25 Councillors annually in May. The Mayor’s formal duties are to chair meetings of the Council, jointly sign legal documents with the Town Clerk (I wasn't really aware of that untll I got the job!) and lead processions and the like on such formal occasions as the town's Remembrance Service. In reality, the core part of the role is attending lots of events (24 in June, for example). These vary from formal receptions (for example, at RAF Halton), significant meetings of local societies (the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Aylesbury Society), charity events and shop openings to school assemblies and care homes. All the previous mayors to whom I have spoken knew of lots of good things that go on in our town but learnt of many more while in office. I am no exception. I have come across so many good causes and interesting and committed people who support them. It has been great fun and very satisfying, particularly since people are remarkably pleased to see the Mayor attending their events. This is definitely not because it is me! The official chain that I wear is symbolic of the town as a whole, so when I turn up I represent the town corporately saying that it recognises the importance of that event — be it fundraising for charity, opening a new shop for our community, or whatever. In the case of the care homes, it is particularly potent in conveying to people nearing the end of life that the town cares and they are not forgotten. The role does take a deal of time but it is well worth it for the pleasure that it brings people. The final aspect of the job is that the Mayor usually nominates a charity whose fundraising they support during the year. Mine is a local organisation called PACE (thepacecentre.org), which helps children with neurodisabilities achieve their fullest potential: amazing people who do amazing things.

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