Farnham has officially welcomed its new Mayor, Councillor David Attfield, and thanked the current Mayor, Cllr Mike Hodge at the annual mayor making ceremony on Thursday 10 May at Farnham Town Council offices.
As the new Mayor representing the town of Farnham and surrounding villages, Cllr Attfield has chosen to support the charity ‘Garner’s Goes Bananas’. The project aims to raise money to update the activity centre at Garner’s Field campsite which is just outside Farnham and used by scout groups, other youth organisations and young people taking part in established award schemes.
Councillor Attfield said: “I am humbled and privileged to be invited to represent this wonderful town as Mayor. I’m looking forward to meeting as many members of Farnham’s community as I can over the next year.”
Cllr Attfield was the Mayor of Farnham in 2006/7 and has been a member of Farnham Town Council for 15 years, representing the ward of Weybourne and Badshot Lea. He and his wife Anne were born in Badshot Lea and lived in the village all their lives. Cllr Attfield is a volunteer with Care Farnham and the 1stFarnham Girls’ Brigade. He likes to spend any other spare time with his dogs and horses. Cllr Attfield spent much of his career working for BT.
As Mayor he can expect a very busy year attending business, civic and community events. His Mayoress is Mrs Anne Attfield and his Deputy, who will also attend events on the Mayor’s behalf, is Cllr Jill Hargreaves. To invite the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to a local event, download a form from the council’s website www.farnham.gov.uk/mayor or call 01252 712667.
Current Mayor, Cllr Hodge can look back on a year that includes highlights such as Farnham in Bloom winning the first Farnham gold for Britain in Bloom and being runner up in the national Council of the Year awards. The year also included the community otter trail project, a packed calendar of community events and meeting a highly active band of volunteers, some of whom work in the two charities he chose to support in his mayoral year, the Woodlarks Centre and Brightwells Gostrey Community Centre.
Cllr Hodge says: “It was my great pleasure in my year as Mayor to help raise awareness and money to support two worthy causes. In Farnham, we have a community of committed and very hard working volunteers who support excellent causes ranging from the arts and education through to charities dedicated to vulnerable people of all ages and to helping people in need. Brightwells Gostrey Community Centre and Woodlarks are just two examples of these.”
Officially Farnham’s first citizen and HM the Queen’s representative in the town, the Mayor typically attends around 300 engagements during the year. The mayoral year runs from May to May and as well as chairing the town’s Council meetings, the Mayor acts as an ambassador for the town, supporting community groups and projects.
