Historic mayor making ceremony and town awards

Town Crier Roland Hailwood leading the mayor making procession.

Coun. Pam Dowson, a member of the town council, was inducted during a special mayor making ceremony that was held at the annual meeting of Clitheroe Town Council. Her consort is Mr Michael Ingham.

Coun. Dowson takes over from Coun. Maureen Fenton, who has been in the post over the last 12 months.

During the centuries-old tradition, which took place at the historic Moot Hall, awards were also presented for services to the town.

The traditional mayor making procession.

David Garner was presented with a town award for his service to youth and community. He was nominated for his long history of volunteering in services to young people and the local community.

David started volunteering when attending Trinity Youth Club. He went from helping to set up disco and tennis table equipment to driving a minibus to transport equipment plus helping with the furniture store at the United Reformed Church. Later on he drove around members of the youth club and started driving for the Ribble Valley Community Bus. He is now a regular driver for the Little Green Bus and has established lasting relationships with some of his regular passengers who he helps with their shopping and other everyday tasks.

Terry Atkinson, Little Green Bus coordinator, said of David and his passengers: “He has become part of their lives and they have become part of his.”

Meanwhile, Mary Gysbers was presented with a town award for her service to the town.

Nominated for her energy and commitment in supporting the Citizens Advice Bureau, she was a founding member in 1987 and served as its chairman or vice-chairman for the next 25 years.

Mary has seen the CAB through many developments including charity registration, incorporation as a company as well as changing national CAB structures and services.

Clitheroe CAB manager Katy Marshall said of Mary: “She followed a straight line, always true to the principle of a local service for local people. Mary is sincere and serious on elitism. She won’t have it that she is special; she says ‘if you put yourself on a pedestal, there’s only one way you’ll go’.”