I WAS delighted to receive the Advertizer’s invitation to send Christmas greetings on behalf of Ellesmere Town Council to who I serve as deputy mayor.

Our mayor is off cruising the high seas at the moment so I have been asked to stand in. In case anyone is wondering “what is a deputy mayor for...?” I am here to represent the town when the mayor is not available and I have been privileged to be doing that for nigh on two years.

It’s a ceremonial role backed up by a lot of hard work at full council and committee level. It ranges from looking after the state of the loos and the town hall, to choose the Christmas lighting for the town. Recently, I had my sleeves rolled up helping to put up the Christmas tree and lighting in the Square.

Some of the events I have attended this year fall into the category of read good fun! Age Concern hosted a lunch at the town hall in celebration of Harry and Meghan’s Royal wedding. I also was also lucky enough to deputise at our fantastic 15th Food and Drink Festival. I met all the stallholders that day who has travelled from far and wide to participate in this ever expanding annal event. Well done the the Arts Exhibition at Ellesmere College which was a great success and I believe attendance was off the scale. And let’s not forget the great Rotary Tally in support of the eradication of polio. I met the drivers and Rotarians and joined them for lunch - a great bunch of lads.

As I write I am looking at the list of this year’s events and for a small town we don’t ‘arf pack it in! Garden lovers and visitors strolled around the 10-acre garden at Otley on the Mere’s edge in May. There was a wonderful classic car show at Cremorne Gardens in July and we really excelled during August when we hosted the dog show, the carnival and the summer festival which attracted a veritable feast of activities from crafts and barge trips, street markets, the flower show and various exhibitors.

Now on to sport. The triathlon in September had hundreds of locals and visitors swimming, cycling and running in and around the town.

After all that, breathlessly, I arrive back to November and our truly wonderful Winter Festival. Let me paint a picture: schoolchildren sing carols in the Square and the Christmas lights are switched on. It is a very special moment but that’s only the beginning. Santa enters the town mysteriously appearing by barge and alighting at the Wharf. A mystical moment but then there’s more to come. Waiting for Santa is the fantabulous War Horse which leads the lantern procession to the centre followed by many hundreds of families and friends. Santa gets settled into his grotto and all the street stalls sell their lovely wares. Food, gifts, crafts, music plays and the shops and pubs and restaurants are open and welcoming. What a finale!

Dear readers I can’t end this little message without mentioning all the good stuff that goes on throughout the year generated by our many community groups.

Gardeners’ Club has a terrific membership and meets regularly, as do the Craft and Chat knitters group, while the Ellesmere Society encourages all things historic.

There’s the Friends of the Library who do everything to support that wonderful service with volunteering and presentations, while Fizz Gigs are the talented lantern makers and creators of arts events.

The Plantation Wood looks after the piece of land recently donated by the Grosvenor Estate and not forgetting the thriving Women’s’ Institute.

And breaking news - there’s a new arts initiative which which has just launched a two-year project to celebrate the centenary of Eglantyne Jebb and her work which I look forward to seeing progress in 2019 and 2020.

I cannot end without a nod and a courtesy to the valiant traders and professionals. The members of the Chamber of Commerce do everything they can to encourage stable trade and attract visitors.

I would be amiss if I didn’t thank the town clerk and her deputies, staff and caretakers for their hard work a diligence.

Thank you also fellow councillors who give so much time in service and support - voluntarily - and who help to keep Ellesmere in good working order in the place that I have come to call ‘The Jewel in the Crown of Shropshire’.

Wishing everyone who reads this joy, happiness, good health and wellbeing for Christmas and the New Year.