The former Mayor of Frome, who passed over the chains of office yesterday (May 20) in a virtual meeting, has been reflecting on his 12 months in post.

He wrote:

My year as mayor has come to an end, and what a year it has been! When I started in May 2019 who could have foreseen where we would be 12 months later?

When I took on the role, I said I would say 'yes' to any request to attend events in Frome or those that involved Frome people. This was my way of trying to reach all aspects of Frome life; old and new, young and old. The invitations flooded in and I found myself meeting old friends in the established clubs and societies, as well as new friends in settings in Frome I knew nothing about, despite my history with Frome beginning in 1962.

I love tradition and was honoured to attend established events like

Remembrance Sunday and the St John's Well Dressing, but was delighted to see more recent events like the Multi-Cultural Festival, when we celebrated the cultures of the more than 60 nationalities who now call Frome 'home'.

Switching on the Christmas lights was another highlight, and I was pleased that one of the winners of my Christmas card competition (which received over 500 entries) could join me on the balcony.

What has impressed me most has been the 'can do' attitude of our residents.

We have done a great job in climbing back from the economic problems of the 1980s, only to be hit again by the Covid crisis.

I came into Frome Town Council through volunteering for local organisations, hoping that I had accumulated the skills, knowledge and contacts required to be an effective councillor. I hope this has been the case, and I am heartened that in this emergency over 350 other residents have volunteered to help their neighbours. I urge them to

continue, if possible, when the crisis has passed.

Even though my year as mayor has come to an end, I continue as a councillor and hope to still meet as many of you as I can. I wish Anita Collier, my successor, all the best for her mayoral year, and all Frome residents the very best for the future.

Thank you, and stay safe

Mark