A Christmas Message from the Mayor of Daventry

Since my inauguration as Mayor in April of this year, I have spent the past eight months getting to know the people of this town a bit better. Daventry continues to be a great place to live, work and visit and I am reminded of that with each new community engagement I attend.

There have been so many wonderful events in Daventry Town, in 2018, and I was very fortunate to have attended most of them. The Food Festival that took place in September was very well received – shame about the rain, but it was fantastic to see the Town so full of life on a Saturday. The annual Fireworks Display in November proved once again that community events is something that we do well – it was an honour to open the display, with the highest attendance we have ever had. The Winter Fayre, first of its name, took place only a couple of weeks ago and was definitely a great success in the Town. The annual lantern parade continues to go from strength to strength, with the highest number of participants that it has seen.

This year's Remembrance Parade, being the commemoration of 100 years from the end of WW1, was both humbling and moving. We said farewell to Graham Holloway who will no longer continue to be Parade Master for the Town. I wish Graham every luck in future endeavours – he will indubitably be missed. The empty chair project was an excellent and fitting tribute to the 114 Daventry soldiers who lost their lives in WW1 and brought a lump to my throat and touched the hearts of all those who visited the exhibition.

The introduction of our sponsored PCSO and Town Ranger has proven incredibly effective in the Town Council's community safety strategy, ensuring that Daventry continues to be a safe place to live, work and visit. Looking at last year's figures and comparing them to this year, the Ranger and PCSO have helped reduce the anti-social behaviour complaints over the summer holidays – a wonderful achievement I am sure you will all agree.

The community spirit in Daventry Town never ceases to amaze me – the generosity, kindness and creativity of the individuals and communities I have seen makes me proud to be Mayor and Chair of Council.

So, whatever your beliefs, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Best wishes,

Cllr Lynn Jones - Mayor of Daventry