Last night after Debby Robinson was elected Mayor of Ventnor, exiting Mayor, Chris Welsford gave the following speech. He was happy for us to share it with our readers who were unable to make it along to the meeting. Ed
I would like to begin by saying thank you to all those people who have helped me to do my job as Mayor over the last 11 months, through what has been a challenging time for Ventnor Town Council its officers, employees and elected members.
My wife and children in particular have had to endure me not being there for them and when I have been there, my bad moods.
Support of town clerk
Over the last two months the expertise, experience and encouragement offered to me by David Bartlett has been invaluable. He has been an absolute rock; his positive attitude keeping me moving forward on the project for change that this Council is committed to completing.
Change is never an easy thing to introduce. Over the last year the changes, which I am proud to have been a part of, have been a radical, but necessary, part of the modernisation of Ventnor Town Council.
It was never going to be easy but I have been privileged to be this town’s Mayor through this period. It has been an extremely interesting and at times a very humbling experience.
Honour to attend civic functions
As Mayor I have been pleased to attend a number of civic functions and ceremonies.
For me one of the most memorable and significant events was the remembrance service and reunion of 40 Royal Marine Commando Association (1942-1946) at Shanklin Chine earlier this year. I was honoured to meet some of these brave old soldiers who generously shared some of their experiences with me. Over the years their numbers have fallen significantly but during the war years, when the Isle of Wight was a restricted military zone, they trained here in their thousands. Many were billeted in Ventnor and many eventually went on to give their lives in circumstances too awful to describe here, so that we could live our lives in a democratic and just society.
Memoirs of Jock Farmer
Because of my attendance at their remembrance service, I have just finished reading the life story of Jock Farmer, a Scott and a member of 40 RM Commando, who, aged 19, trained here during the War, fought for our freedom, and then having survived the war, married and settled down on the Isle of Wight and who died here in 2006.
Having read his account of the war, I now know why I was invited as Mayor to their remembrance service.
It was to provide me with a sense of humility, proportion, perspective and understanding. These things are essential for us to be able to peacefully move forward.
I wish our new Mayor well for her term of office. I am sure it will be a challenging but also a very rewarding year.
Thank you.
Image: Barbara Roscoe taken at launch of last year’s V-Bay Festival
