A Message From the New Mayor of Helston

Helston has a new mayor. On Tuesday evening at the mayor choosing ceremony outgoing mayor John Boase completed his term of office and handed the chains over to his successor Councillor Jonathan Radford-Gaby. Mike Thomas was elected as his deputy.

Speaking to Helston People about taking on the role and what it means to him, Mayor Jonathan Radford-Gaby says:

"It was an honour and privilege almost beyond description for me on Tuesday evening to become the Mayor of Helston, the town I live in and love so much.  As I said in my acceptance speech, Helston is a very exciting place to be this year, with the Olympic Torch and Diamond Jubilee celebrations now so close. 

When writing my speech, I considered what it was that makes Helston the finest town in Cornwall and me so proud of it - and I didn't need to think too hard.  The people of Helston are the ones that make it what it is, that provide the spirit of community and inclusion which abounds, and that give so generously of their time to bring us events that we all love, such as Flora Day, Christmas lights night, Harvest Fair, the Carnival, and so many other things, all run by volunteers for the good of everyone in Helston.  What a place to live - it's always easy to complain, but we have to remember that there is so much to celebrate about being in Helston.

I would never be complacent, however, and we have to remember that there is an considerable task in hand to regenerate the town centre, to fill our empty shops, to increase the numbers visiting the town centre and to revive the economic prosperity of our businesses.  This task is being expertly lead by our Town Centre Manager, Jonathan Birkett, and in his few short months in post, whether you look at the Portas Review Bid, the Business Improvement Partnership, the new market stalls and night markets throughout the summer or any of the other initiatives JB has put in place, there's no doubt about it he really has hit the ground running for us.

I believe the Town Council have now turned a much needed corner and are working with many other community interest groups within the town to maintain and improve all that is good in the area.

Often checking out as I do the Helston People website over a lunchtime sandwich, I read with interest the many comments made over a wide variety of local issues.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Helston People site for the professionalism and unbiased nature of their reporting, and for bringing us local news quickly and efficiently.  Please do contact me directly however, if you would like to speak to me about anything - just go to the Helston Town Council website for my phone numbers, or email me at radfordgaby@helstontc.com.

As I said in my speech on Tuesday, I strongly believe Helston to be the finest town in Cornwall in so many ways - it is a huge honour and privilege to have been selected to be Mayor, and I reaffirm my solemn pledge to your service."