‘Unique year’ as mayor exits
Councillor Michael Ford has reflected on his ‘utterly unique’ mayoral year after passing on the role.
Fareham Borough Council has bid farewell to outgoing mayor Michael Ford after he made way for Cllr Fred Birkett at the annual mayor-making ceremony in the town.
Mayors carry out ceremonial duties, chair meetings and are typically more involved in the community than the average councillor.
For Cllr Ford, his year in office as mayor proved to be an experience he’ll remember with many events on the national stage that made the year unique.
Cllr Ford described his mayoral year as ‘fantastic’.
‘You step outside your comfort zone, you meet so many people and go to so many places you wouldn’t normally go to,’ he said.
‘The highlight of course, royally, it was an utterly unique year.
‘We started the year with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, sadly lost The Queen, had the honour of reading the proclamation of the accession of the new King to the throne and then sneaked into the Coronation.
‘It’s been a great year in many other aspects but the royals made it so unique.
‘I’ll still be involved in the community anyway but it’s a bittersweet day today, I’ll miss it but it’s also nice to free up the diary.
‘Cllr Birkett will be fantastic, he’s very good, calm and level-headed. He’ll do a first-class job.’
When asked about his main priorities as the new mayor, Cllr Birkett said highlighting local businesses ‘is what I really want to do’.
‘As well as raising the profile of, and money for, my chosen charities,’ he added.
‘One being Sophie’s legacy and the other being Veterans Outreach Support – which helps veterans of all forces including the merchant navy.
‘Being Mayor isn’t something that I expected or set out to do however from conversing with the more experienced people they told me you get to know Fareham a lot more.
‘I’m really passionate about Fareham – I learnt so much in my deputy mayoral year, I just want to take that forward.’