3.1             Councillor Jim Mason expressed the Council’s thanks to Ruth Hatton for the way that she had represented the Borough throughout her year in Office. Councillor Mason indicated that, 12 months ago, he had had the great privilege to propose Ruth for the position of Mayor as he knew she would be excellent in the role. He felt she had been a fantastic ambassador for the Borough and, together with her Consort, had attended well over 100 functions and events. There were too many engagements to mention them all but there were a few he felt demonstrated how wholeheartedly Ruth and Harry had embraced Ruth’s Mayoral year; they had joined the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service on their ‘bed push’ challenge which had raised over £15,000 for the Gloucestershire Oncology Centre; attended the German Bivouac at the ARRC where Ruth had made a speech in German having never spoken the language before; crowned the May Queen and King at the Woodmancote fete; and Ruth had read a poem when attending the Women in Aviation exhibition at the Jet Age Museum. Councillor Mason felt it was those little extra personal touches that had made the year such a success; Ruth had also attended a number of events involving young people including Alderman Knight’s Got Talent Show, Angels and Superheroes and a Scratch Nativity play at Queen Margaret’s Primary School where Harry had dressed up as an elf. Ruth had been a great supporter of the youth of the Borough raising funds for her charitable organisations; the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service – Tewkesbury Fire Cadets and the Aston Project, and she had invited young people from those organisations to take part in her Civic Service and talk about some of the things they were involved in. Councillor Mason indicated that, at Council meetings, Ruth had been a fair and impartial Chair who had managed the meetings expertly and ensured a smooth transaction of business with her usual quiet authority. He was of the view that Ruth had looked after the other Councillors like a mother hen tending her chicks, ensuring they were all well-fed after Council meetings with her home-prepared food, and felt she would be a hard act to follow with her kindness and true dedication to the Borough – although he was sure the newly elected Mayor would be up to the challenge. In summing up, Councillor Mason expressed his sadness that both Ruth and Harry had lost their seats in the recent local elections and, whilst that was democracy, they would be missed. Ruth had conducted her Mayoral year with great dignity and decorum and had been exceptionally popular out in the community and was spoken about with great affection and warmth – she had received great support from Harry and together they had worked tirelessly with compassion and commitment making everyone feel comfortable with their quiet and relaxed way as they had hosted and attended many functions; it had been a very successful year full of great memories for the community and hopefully for Ruth and Harry.

3.2             Ruth thanked Councillor Mason for his kind words and indicated that it had been a fantastic year which she had thoroughly enjoyed. She expressed her thanks to all of the Officers who had supported her and her Consort in carrying out their civic duties, which had totalled 134 events, and from which they would take many memorable friendships. Some particular highlights of the year had been their visit to Belfast on behalf of Tewkesbury in Bloom to collect an award – this had not been an official Borough Council remit so they had funded the trip themselves but had had a wonderful time and had felt honoured to attend the awards ceremony on behalf of the Borough. She particularly thanked the Chief Executive for his guidance at Council meetings, the Democratic Services Team for their support and her Chaplain, Reverend Wendy Ruffle, for her individual attention and loyal support. Ruth indicated that she had enjoyed supporting both of her chosen organisations throughout her Mayoral year and hoped the money raised would go some way to supporting the young people that used the services of both the Aston Project and the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service – Tewkesbury Fire Cadets. She also thanked her Consort, Harry, for driving her faithfully and safely over 300 miles on their Civic duties. In concluding her speech, Ruth also offered her thanks to everyone who had attended her events and made them such a success. 

3.3             The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Gill Blackwell, presented Ruth Hatton with a Past Mayor’s Badge. Harry Turbyfield presented Mike Blackwell with the Consort’s Badge of Office and Mike Blackwell presented Harry Turbyfield with his Past Consort’s Badge.

3.4             Flowers were presented to Councillor Gill Blackwell and Ruth Hatton.