A busy new year for Alnwick Town Mayor

At the February meeting of the full council, Alnwick Town Mayor, Councillor Geoff Watson, reported on his recent civic activities.

He attended a Northumberland County Council Community Conference which was led by NCC Leader, Glen Sanderson. The conference was an opportunity for Town and Parish Councillors to engage with Northumberland County Council Officers.

The Mayor also attended the Sustainable Travel Advisory Group, chaired by Councillor Martin Swinbank. The agenda included the Bondgate Tower Study, car park signage, dropped kerbs, the Neighbourhood Plan refresh and Alnwick Greenway.

The Mayor, accompanied by Councillor Dianne Watson, visited St James & St Basil’s Church in Newcastle to attend a Burns Supper. The colours of 23rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers are held at the Church. The battalion was based in the grounds of Alnwick Castle in 1916 before going off to war. Alnwick Piper Andrew Fawcett piped in the Haggis.

Together with Councillors Peter Broom and Gordon Castle, the Mayor attended the Duchess of Northumberland’s reception for the Alnwick Christmas Lights Committee at Alnwick Castle. Like the Town Council, the Duchess holds the Christmas Lights volunteers in high regard and she undertook to support the fund-raising activities of the Committee.

There was more haggis on the menu when the Mayor accepted an invitation to Summerhill Care Home for their Burns Lunch. He was delighted to meet the staff and residents and take part in the traditional Scottish ceremony of piping in the Haggis.

The Mayor chaired a meeting of the Coronation Group to discuss May’s ceremony and was pleased to report that St Cloud’s State University student, Nyah Adams, based with her fellow students at Alnwick Castle, would be involved with the plans.

With some of his colleagues the Mayor also attended meetings of Alnwick & Denwick Relief in Need charity, a zoom meeting with his counterparts of Alnwick’s French twin town, Lagny Sur Mare, and chaired the monthly meeting of the Royal British Legion where he was pleased to report that the Alnwick Branch now has 51 members.

Pictured: Mayor Geoff Watson at the Summerhill Care Home Burns Lunch.