Speech to Mayor’s Ball – Saturday 11th
March 2017
Good
evening Ladies and Gentleman, It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the
Carnegie Rooms this evening for the annual Mayor’s Charity Ball.
Tonight is a celebration of our community, it
is an opportunity to raise money for charity and yes, tonight is also about
having a good time – which I really hope you all do.
Having been born and raised in Thetford, I
thought I knew a fair amount about our town. I went to school here, I grew up
here and I’ve served as a Councillor for nearly 10 years. This past year
serving as your Mayor has however been somewhat of an eye opener. I’ve met
groups I never knew existed and discovered support mechanisms going about their
work very much under the radar.
Groups such as Link Up, the talking newspaper
for the blind and partially sighted – whose volunteers are helping in excess of
100 people a fortnight to stay in touch with local news. Thetford Dementia
Support group who’s Christmas Party I joined and saw how they comfort those battling
the debilitating illness and provide support for those caring for them. A visit
to the Thetford Breathe Easy group revealed how people with illnesses such as
COPD are still very much enjoying life – incidentally, they hold the record so
far for the longest raffle that I’ve been present for with in excess of 50
prizes.
I’ve learnt about our heritage – aspects that I
never fully understood or appreciated. I’ve been down a pit at Grimes Graves - wearing
the Mayoral chain. I spoke at the gravesite of Maharajah Duleep Singh to commemorate
the anniversary of his death – I’ve almost worked out how to pronounce
Maharajah – although I’m not quite there. I’ve attended the handing over of a
first edition book by Thomas Paine and visited the Charles Burrell Museum – so
many fascinating aspects about our heritage.
I’ve learnt about of twin towns and better
understood our twinning relationships – I’ve delivered a speech in our twin
town of Hurth in Germany, received the Mayor of our twin town of Skawina in
Poland here in Thetford in Kings House gardens for afternoon tea and been the
guest of our twin town of Les Ulis in France for a sound and light show
highlighting the history of Les Ulis since its birth 40 years ago – incredibly
I went to Les Ulis as an 11 year child as part of a school trip to celebrate
its 20th birthday and the signing of our twinning agreement with
Thetford and then returned 20 years later as the Mayor of the town I was born
in.
I’ve also endured the consternation of the
French when I admitted I didn’t like red wine and witnessed the sheer horror on
a German translator’s face when visiting Versailles in France and Corinne asked
them to translate “ostentatious”. Similar horror that was probably visible on
my face when Corinne started to talk to the German delegation in a confined
space about Dads Army and the War – clearly forgetting that they “don’t like it
up em”.
During the year I’ve also sought to improve
community cohesion and represent the whole of Thetford – I’ve visited the
Polish Language School which I helped to officially open along with
representatives from the Polish embassy and I’ve opened a new Portuguese run
support service with the Portuguese ambassador – almost caused a diplomatic
incident when I highlighted in my speech that the Ambassador had not brought
with him any ferroro roche. I’ve welcomed the Deputy Mayor of Nagawa, Japan who
we are now twinned with through grimes graves and the obsidian mines in Nagawa.
I now know what obsidian is and I can sing you a catchy song about it as well
and I know of its similarities to our flint. We’ve also co-ordinated an event to
mark and support the United Nations International Day of Tolerance.
I can now tell you what a black and white horse
is – a piebald – thanks to the Thetford Mastermind final – I was told that no,
it wasn’t in fact a zebra. I’ve learnt that some people really, really love
hats – some can’t wait to take them off, some can’t hold back in forcing others
to keep them on. Yes, 2016 has not only been the year of Donald Trump and Brexit,
it’s been the year of hatgate as well.
Talking of the Council, I asked on social media
this week for some advice on what to include in my speech this evening and how
to make it funny. Talk about dicks said one of those that commented – they’re
always good for a laugh. But seeing as those Councillors aren’t here I’ll just
move on.
Without doubt however, visiting schools and
youth groups across Thetford has been a particular highlight this year and it has
shown that our young people are bright, they’re full of energy and they’re
certainly inquisitive. I hope through those visits at least young people are
aware of a little bit about our democratic institutions and failing that – they
at least now know that No, I am not the King, I do not live in a Castle, I’m
not a millionaire – and no, Corinne Fulford is not my stalker, even though as
pointed about by one young person, and I quote “she follows you everywhere”.
I’ve been able to compare and contrast life
today for young people in Thetford with my own – growing up in a small market
town with limited opportunities and limited transport links can be tough – add
to that mix today that everything is seen through the prism of social media, or
a camera, everything is documented and recorded and accessible – makes it all
the more difficult and the challenges, particularly mentally, all the harder to
overcome.
That is why, profits raised from this evening,
including the raffle, will go towards my Mayor’s Charity Fund which this year
is supporting groups locally providing services and opportunities for children
and young people, groups such as the Benjamin Foundation and Meet Up Café,
groups such as Thetford Community Association and Charles Burrell Centre who
are all represented here this evening. I urge you to give generously and thank
those local businesses that have provided raffle prizes. I particularly thank
the main financial donor for the ball itself Lawsons Estate Agents who have
given generously to help cover some of the costs staging this evening -
There have been some emotional moments this
year, plenty of frustrations, but this year has been such fun as well – taking
the Lord Mayor of Norwich in full robes and chains on the waltzers at Kings
Lynn mart was a particular highlight, supporting 39 events during the two week
Thetford Festival, the 80s disco and Christmas quiz as well. Thank-you to
everyone that played a part and embraced and supported the year.
Another highlight was undoubtedly the Lord
Mayors Parade in Norwich – my seating position on the official platform led to
many thinking that I was in fact the Lord Mayor, highly embarrassing, but
thankfully taken in good spirit by the actual Lord Mayor, who has referred to
me as the Deputy Lord Mayor for the remainder of the year, so much so that
staff at County Hall also refer to me as Lord Mayor. The procession was also a
highlight for Corinne, she came face to face with the Star Wars appreciation
society and Chewbacca – for those that don’t know Corinne has a thing for
Chewbacca – so I have a little gift for her.
Corinne please stand – this Ball probably
wouldn’t’ have happened if it were not for Corinne, and it certainly wouldn’t
have happened to the same standard, Corinne has supported me immensely in my
year as Mayor, so I’d like to ask you to all put your hands together – Corinne,
thank-you.
I thank also the local organisation’s that have
crafted the fantastic table centre pieces this evening – each depicting an
aspect of Thetford – you’ll see on your table a sheet for choosing your
favourite – this is in part designed to encourage you to walk round and view
each table and appreciate what’s on offer.
As these tables confirm, we have much to be
proud of in Thetford; we have environmental assets and heritage that are the
envy of many, we have people rich in passion with unending potential. We are
geographically placed to reap great rewards.
Let’s tonight celebrate what we have, and
tomorrow continue to spread that positive message and work to make Thetford
greater than it already is.
Thank-you and enjoy your evening.
