Mayor Saltash Making welcomes French visitors

The annual Mayor of Saltash ceremony was held on May 10th at the Guildhall.

Cllr Julia Peggs succeeds Cllr Richard Bickford, who has undertaken two years as the town’s mayor, while Cllr Rachel Bullock steps in as deputy for the coming year.

The event was attended by dignitaries from Cornwall and Plymouth, including the Deputy Mayor of Plymouth, Kathy Watkin and wife, and the Mayor and wife of Saltash’s twin town, Plougastel, from Brittany, Dominique Cap and his wife Alice, who arrived in Plymouth with a day before as part. of the twinning association’s biannual trip.

The official ceremony at Saltash Guildhall began with the national anthem. Prayers were led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Michelle Parkman, University Chaplain at Plymouth Marjon University, with her husband Tim accompanying on keyboard and a rendition of ‘Cornwall My Home’ sung by Florence Bonner.

Mayor Cllr Peggs thanked outgoing Mayor Cllr Bickford for his service in running the council, noting in particular the support he received from his consort and wife Sarah.

She said: “Richard Bickford has left behind a huge pair of boots to fill… Richard has done an amazing job over the last two years bringing the station project to fruition with his tenacity and his time – without his commitment compared to this wonderful old building it would never be what we have today.

“He brought the board together on various projects and funding opportunities that hadn’t been explored much before. A huge thank you to Richard for all his efforts in being a fantastic leader of the board over the past two years.”

The new mayor announced his charities of the year as the Saltash Youth Network project, which brings together many Saltash youth groups under one umbrella, and Community Enterprises PL12 Community Kitchen, adding: “I will also be supporting our community kitchen, which does so much a lot for us. community; those who need support either with mental health issues, the stroke club, dementia clubs or maybe just a cuppa and a chat for those who are single.”

After signing the book of oaths, Mayor Cllr Peggs was presented with the key to the city by Clerk Sinead Burrows. Following ancient tradition, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and consorts then threw pennies and fruit out the windows of the Guildhall to the city’s children waiting below.

The ceremony was followed by a gathering at Saltash Station Isambard House, which featured a 12kg centerpiece of the famous Plougastel strawberries, donated by visitors to the Twinning Association. Host families from Saltash joined the new mayor at the welcome reception for the French contingent at the start of their three-day trip to the town.