Paul Ardern-Jones, Mayor of Epsom and Ewell for 1998/1999 took office as Mayor on May 1998, in succession to Derek Youell Paul has kindly agreed to write a monthly column for Epsom and Ewell on the Internet. In this month's column, he shares some of the thoughts in his speech at the Mayor-making.
Every time I put on my scarlet robe and gold chain, I remember that it has actually been worn by every previous Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, and, while the regalia may seem a little over the top today, it is a strong symbol of our traditions of local government and civic pride. In this country, we sometimes forget how fortunate we are that so much of our heritage has been preserved. The traditions that go with it are the cement of our society, and , while it is easy to denigrate tradition, before dong so we should be very clear about the consequences of damaging that cement. Nevertheless, time moves on, and, as we head into the next century, it is vital to strike the right balance between preservation and innovation. We in Epsom and Ewell are striving hard to make sure our town gets it right. We believe that our style of local government - independent of national party politics - will continue to serve us extremely well. Indeed, it is the envy of neighbouring towns because it enables our councillors to keep in close touch with all sections of the community. At the same time, we are keen to ensure that our businesses, ranging from small family firms to major international corporations, are able to grow and prosper. Newcomers to the borough are also welcome and, having lived in several parts of the UK and travelled in most major countries myself, I am sure they will find Epsom a pretty good place to live and work in. There are not many other parts of the world where everyone: rick, poor, old and young can enjoy such pleasant, safe and interesting environment.
 |
|
|
|
 |