In May, I will be coming to the end of my year as Mayor. It has been a privilege to serve as Mayor, and a wonderful experience. I have enjoyed meeting so many people who do so much to make Felixstowe the fantastic place it is to live. I began my Mayoral year with the theme of service, and I have seen in practice, as I have gone round different community groups and met so many people volunteering to help others, service in action in the local community.

The Town Council held a very successful Charity and Voluntary Groups Summit at Felixstowe School in February. The day attracted around 80 attendees from across many different voluntary sectors, who were given the chance to attend a series of workshops and to network with each other. Following this event, the Town Council is looking to explore ways to bring charities and voluntary organisations in Felixstowe and the surrounding area together, so we can all learn from each other, share resources and expertise and support one another.

In April, the Town Council will host a civic delegation from Wesel, Felixstowe’s twin town. This delegation includes Ulrike Westkamp, the Bürgermeisterin of Wesel, and will mark her final visit to Felixstowe in the role, as she is soon to stand down after 20 years of service. We have planned a busy itinerary of events in Felixstowe, which include the Mayor’s Ball on 25 April, to be hosted at Sea You, and a visit to the Houses of Parliament with Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP, who has kindly invited us.

Hosted at the beginning of April, Catwalk on the Coast, The Mayor’s Charity Fashion Show was a sell out and a huge success, attracting over 250 attendees, and raising money for my chosen Charities, Breast Friends CIC and The Landguard Trust. This year, the show was particularly special, as some of the models were members of the Breast Friends group. Thank you to everyone who supported, sponsored, or attended and helped to make it such an enjoyable evening. I really enjoyed my debut as a model, although I am still awaiting a call from a modeling agency!

Some of you may have read about changes that are being proposed for the structures of local government. These include an elected Mayor for Suffolk and Norfolk with devolved powers from central Government, and changes to the current structure of local councils. We don’t yet know what the structure will be, but Felixstowe Town Council will, I am pleased to say, still exist, as it is not directly affected. The Town Council will be discussing the various proposals in due course.

Finally, it been a privilege to serve as Mayor and I wish the next Mayor every success in their role.