Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge’s new Mayor and Mayoress, Andy and Lorna Brewer, have urged town councillors to ‘put political differences behind them and all work closely together for the benefit of our two towns’.
The comments from the new Mayor came as the couple were elected by councillors during the Annual Town Council Meeting held on Monday evening (May 13th). The outgoing Mayor and Mayoress, Bill and Frances Hancock, stepped down after two successful years in the role.
Andy and Lorna have lived in Burnham for 14 years and say they are “greatly honoured” to have been chosen. Andy has been a town councillor for five years and works with a local engineering company while Lorna has worked as the council’s admin officer for 14 years.
“I’m humbled and greatly honoured to become Mayor,” Cllr Andy Brewer told Burnham-On-Sea.com. “We’re both looking forward to a busy, active year. My vision for the Town Council is to encourage working with other community organisations to help make Burnham and Highbridge a better place to live and for it to be more attractive to tourists and visitors.”
He added: “We have a newly-elected council and I trust we will put political differences behind us and all work together for the benefit of our towns. I respectfully ask that we leave party politics out of this chamber.”
He also said that he would be striving to make the community safer, will encourage younger people to become more involved in the local community, will support youth groups and organisations, and he said he would encourage the Town Council to become more environmentally-friendly.
Outgoing Mayor Cllr Bill Hancock said: “Frances and I have enjoyed the roles so much and have made so many friends over the last two years and seen many wonderful things we never expected to see. Burnham and Highbridge has such a strong community and this is the best job in the world.”
The outgoing Mayor presented gifts to thank the Town Council clerk, outgoing chaplain, deputy and admin assistant, plus deputies, for their help.
Cllr Janet Keen proposed Andy Brewer be appointed Mayor, which was seconded by Cllr Peter Clayton. Cllr Keen said: “Cllr Brewer has given 100 per cent and is utterly committed to the towns.” Councillors unanimously voted in favour of Cllr Brewer’s appointment.
Cllr Brewer was presented with the Mayoral chain and he thanked the Hancocks for their work in the role. “They have shown a real commitment to the role and our community and are to be thanked – they are a very hard act to follow. It is a great honour to represent Burnham and Highbridge as Mayor.”
The new Mayor’s deputies were chosen as Cllr Bill Hancock and Cllr Nick Tolley by councillors, as pictured below.
The new Mayor and Mayoress also announced the new Mayor’s Cadet as Able Cadet William Leader, 15, from Burnham Sea Cadets, who received the Mayor’s Cadet badge during the evening.
Cllr Bill Hancock also presented flowers to Rev Sharon Crossman to thank her in her outgoing role as the Mayor’s Chaplain. The new chaplain is Reverend Kelton Black, pictured below.
