Honours for 'Braveheart' and the Post
THE new mayor of Pocklington was elected to office last Thursday at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries and town representatives.
THE new mayor of Pocklington was elected to office last Thursday at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries and town representatives.
Coun Maureen Wilkinson took up the reins from outgoing mayor Coun George McManus at the annual mayor-making ceremony held at Pocklington Arts Centre.
Thanks were paid to Coun McManus by fellow councillor Jim Dempster for this efforts in representing Pockington.
"I would like to thank George on behalf of the town councillors for being mayor over the last year and also on behalf of the people of Pocklington for what he has done for the town," Coun Dempster said.
He praised Coun McManus' charity work and the amount of money he had raised for the Ken Suttle Cancer Appeal, his efforts on reviving the railway between York and Beverley and his contribution towards the move by the town council to the former courthouse.
In reply Coun McManus said that when he came to office he had felt as though he was holding a crystal vase which could so easily have been broken by one slip-up but he believed that the town council was most successful when it was at its boldest.
"I resolved to do two things when I came to office - avoid mistakes and make a difference to push out the boundaries, to take the town council to places it had not been before and raise its profile."
He also paid tribute to the staff, friends and supporters of Pocklington Arts Centre which was described as 'the jewel in the crown' of the town.
A Town Council shield was awarded to the Pocklington Post for its efforts in securing compensation for thousands of residents following the electricity power surge in April 2003.
"The Pocklington Post showed what a campaigning newspaper can do by going into action to the benefit of local people."
A second shield was presented to Wilma, widow of Ken Suttle, for the couple's efforts in raising 10,000 for York District Hospital's maxillofacial unit.
"Ken was one of the first people I met when I came to Pocklington and I know how much the town had taken both Ken and Wilma to their hearts," Coun McManus added.
"He was a Yorkshire 'Braveheart' and the Pocklington Late Night Shopping will not be the same without him."
The new mayor Coun Maureen Wilkinson said she would endeavour to uphold the trust of the council and work to the best of her ability during the forthcoming year.
"I am proud to live in Pocklington which is such a friendly town," she said.
"Last year we did well in the annual Yorkshire in Bloom competition but we are dependent on the people of Pocklington and hope to do better in the summer judging with the support of local businesses."
Coun Wilkinson also vowed to continue her fight against litter during her term of office to further improve the appearance of the town.
The evening also saw the election of Coun Jo Green as deputy town mayor and the appointment of the chaplain to the council, the Rev Chris Simmons.
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Weather for Pocklington
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
