VIDEO: Tiverton Welcomes Lester Crocker as New Mayor

TIVERTON’s schoolchildren and councillors welcomed the new

mayor into office on Tuesday in an inauguration at the town hall.

Born and bred in the borough, Cllr Lester Crocker replaces

outgoing mayor Cllr Paul Graham in wearing the chain of office in the ceremony

which dates back to 1615.

Finance portfolio holder for Mid Devon District Council, Cllr

Neal Davey was elected as deputy mayor for the year ahead.

The mayor then chose to involve as many organisations in the

town as the year’s charity. This means that groups will be able to turn to the

charity for money when they need it.

Lester said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s an honour and I

don’t think my feet will touch the ground. 

It was nice to see the family and everyone turn up for the ceremony

today, it was really special.  I hope to

carry on the theme of the last mayor with the community at heart, and getting

things done for everybody.

“I’m looking forward to going to Hoffheim with the twinning

in June, but other than that I’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

The new mayor added that he would like to introduce an

awareness day for the youth of the town, involving organisations which can

present their club to schools and show what’s on offer for young people in the

town.

Mayoress Carol Crocker is also looking forward to getting

involved with the town’s young people. She said: “I’m looking forward to

meeting the children and going to the schools. I think Lester is keen to go to

every school and he’s promised to do that today.

 “It’s exciting, I don’t

know what to expect, It’s a once in a lifetime thing. It’s a strange feeling,

but I’m proud to be here. Lester has worked so hard for the town and it’s good

to see him being rewarded by being mayor.

“Lester does so much for the town as it is, I hardly see

him, and absence makes the heart grow fonder, so it’ll only get fonder over

this year won’t it.”

Town Beadle John Smith has been working closely with mayors

for over two decades and offered advice to the new mayor: “Enjoy it and realise

it’s a once in a lifetime experience and do everything with conviction.

“He is invited to endless functions throughout the town. It’s

a great privilege.  This year apart from

going to Germany the mayor’s highlight will probably be the perambulation, but

you never know what will happen.”

Children from the town’s schools then greeted the mayor and

gave gifts to him and the mayoress, they included several bouquets of flowers

and two umbrellas from Heathcoat Primary School.

Three of those came from Tidcombe Primary School. Toby Hide,

9, said: “It nervous and quite a long ceremony, but it was exciting to meet the

new mayor today.

Faith Earls,9, added: “I would like the mayor to get us a

KFC in Tiverton. I love KFC, but there’s none in Tiverton, just a McDonalds and

a Subway.”

 Molly Smith, 10, said:

“I think it’s a very good and rewarding ceremony for Tiverton and I’m looking

forward to seeing what the new mayor will do.”