Entry from 16th May- 27th June 

Since taking office on 16^th May, I have carried out 10 official engagements, given two press interviews about my appointment and one interview to a documentary maker about Knaresborough Bed Race.

Attending the Mayor Making ceremony and dinner for the Harrogate mayor on 23^rd May at the Royal Hall in Harrogate was the first civic event at which I met the newly elected mayor for Harrogate, the newly elected mayor for Otley and several Harrogate Borough councillors and the Chief Executive of HBC.

In the following week, I gave press interviews with the Stray Ferret and The Harrogate Advertiser and attended the reopening of the Chapel in the Crag on Abbey Road on Sunday 29^th May.

On 30^th May, having chosen Care in the Community Support Service as my chosen charity for the year, I was delighted to attend their Platinum Jubilee party on Hilton Lane in Knaresborough in the afternoon.

I appointed my chaplain for the year, Stroma McDermott, of the Anglican Church on Gracious Street, who was as delighted to be asked, as I was at her acceptance of the role.

Attending the Platinum Jubilee service in Ripon Cathedral on 2^nd June was a great honour, at which the Knaresborough Guides made an outstanding contribution, and at which I was privileged to meet the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, and the new mayor and deputy mayor of Skipton, along with the deputy mayor of Boroughbridge and the ongoing mayor of Ripon.

The highlight of the year so far was the Knaresborough Bed Race on Saturday 11^th June. What a fantastic event! Brilliantly organized by the Knaresborough Lions and a whole host of community volunteers, the effort that everyone put into this event was outstanding. A thoroughly enjoyable day, from taking part in the parade through the town to delivering the welcome address and starting the race off, talking to people in the crowd and then awarding the prizes at the end of the day. I also passed on my thanks for the very prompt clear up operation to the mayor of Harrogate, which was much appreciated.

 On Sunday 12^th June, I attended a service at Ripon Cathedral for couples in the district celebrating over 50 years of marriage, where I also met the newly elected mayor of Richmond and the chair of North Yorkshire County Council.

The Platinum Jubilee weekend in Knaresborough started with the beacon lightning at the castle on 2^nd June, followed by attendance at the flag making workshop for children taking part in the flag parade on Saturday 4^th June, and the opening of the garden party ay Knaresborough House that same afternoon. Well done all councillors that put in the effort into organising this and made sure everything went as planned despite the vandalism the night before.

The Platinum Jubilee service at St John’s church in Knaresborough on 5^th June was very special in that it involved all the Knaresborough churches coming together in St John’s Hub afterwards.

The highlight of the year so far was the Knaresborough Bed Race on Saturday 11^th June. What a fantastic event! Brilliantly organized by the Knaresborough Lions and a whole host of community volunteers, the effort that everyone put into this event was outstanding. A thoroughly enjoyable day, from taking part in the parade through the town to delivering the welcome address and starting the race off, talking to people in the crowd and then awarding the prizes at the end of the day. I also passed on my thanks for the very prompt clear up operation to the mayor of Harrogate, which was much appreciated.

On Sunday 12^th June, I attended a service at Ripon Cathedral for couples in the district celebrating over 50 years of marriage, where I also met the newly elected mayor of Richmond and the chair of North Yorkshire County Council.

Entry from August

The FEVA festival in August was once again a great success for the town. It was a pleasure to declare the festival open in the market place on 12th August and take part in the judging of the town crier competition that weekend, as well as attending the church service on the Sunday at St John's to celebrate the festival.

On 15th August I had a meeting, along with two community representatives, with the Chief Constable for North Yorkshire and the Area Commander for Knaresborough at Police HQ in Northallerton, to discuss crime levels in the town and in particular anti-social behaviour and vandalism. The meeting was very positive and has led to the setting up of a community police liaison group with the new area policing inspector. This group has so far looked at how to further engage with and support youth services in the town, and active discussions and meetings between youth workers and the police are now taking place. Anti-social behaviour information leaflets and how to report this have also been distributed in areas of the town where this has been identified as a particular problem.

On 20th August I had the pleasure of attending the Knaresborough Business Awards, organised by the Knaresborough Business Collective. It was a very well supported evening and great fun. Knaresborough has a strong and vibrant business community and being able to speak personally to business owners and congratulate award winners was a privilege.

We had visitors from our twin town in Germany, Bebra, over the second weekend in September, an arrangement that had been set up for some months, but which was unfortunately marred by the death of Queen Elizabeth the second. However, the visit marked the 50th anniversary of the town twinning arrangements and I was very pleased to accept, on behalf of the town, a certificate to celebrate the 50th anniversary, signed by the Burgermeister of Bebra and myself, and a gift from him of framed maps of each town to mark the occasion.

I attended the commemorative service for the Queen at St John's church on Sunday 18^th September, and read the proclamation of the new King Charles the third in the evening in the market square with the company of the town crier and members of the Royal British Legion.

On 22nd of September the postponed mayor making ceremony was held in Knaresborough House, to complete the formal handover from the former mayor, Christine Willoughby, and myself. This enabled Christine to formally present community awards outstanding from the previous year.

The little bird artisan market has moved from the market square to the castle yard, and to celebrate and promote the market in its new location I attended and spoke with the organisers and as many stallholders as I was able to on Sunday morning 1^st October.