Salute to borough's mayors at the end of an era

"DO YOU…having been elected to the office of Mayor, declare that you take that office upon yourself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of your judgement and ability?

"Do you undertake to observe the code as to the conduct which is expected of members of Macclesfield Borough Council?"

An elite club of 35 people have said "yes" to these grand testaments since 1974.

An oath sworn to uphold the principles of the borough and boldly carry the torch for Maxonians.

This band of noblemen and women are the mayors of the Borough of Macclesfield.

And as the day draws near for the new Cheshire East council to supplant both MBC and Cheshire County Council, so the final curtain comes down on the office of mayor of the borough.

But it has been an intriguing history of many faces and many stories.

And, instead of letting the history of the grandiose title fade into obscurity, what better way to celebrate the town’s figurehead than by delving into its fascinating tale spun over the course of the past 35 years?

The first role was in 1974 after the famous, and comprehensive, local government reorganisations that swept through the country.

A panel of councillors would meet to decide who would stand for the position and also for that of deputy mayor.

Candidates would nervously wait to hear their fate as it was formally voted on in a full council meeting in April.

And, after ballots had been counted, the new mayor would be announced and formally adopted in May each year at the MBC annual meeting.

The first to assume the mantle was Williams Crossley, as reported in the Macclesfield Express. He was joined by John Morris as his deputy, in what was a double coup for Wilmslow.

But the inaugural ceremony was a stormy affair and it was reported that in the meeting, from which the press and public were excluded, a fierce debate ensued before the final details were finally hammered out.

Williams and the 34 who followed were charged with being beacons for the borough, and had to undertake a dizzying plethora of duties.

But, unlike our Gallic counterparts across the Channel, the mayor’s role is a ceremonial one with tasks ranging from chairing full council meetings, to opening, unveiling and presenting at a multitude of events, particularly in the voluntary sector.

But it is not all work and no play – there are benefits attached to the office, as incumbent mayor Councillor Thelma Jackson would tell you. She rides in the lap of luxury as a Jaguar car is used for official functions.

Highlights of the mayoral calendar include the civic ball, where the great and the good don their best outfits to dance the night away with local dignitaries.

Civic church services, Remembrance Day and hosting neighbouring mayors are also among the myriad of commitments.

And the lucky few have rolled out the red carpet for the mightiest of guests: the Royal Family.

The Queen swung by during her Millennium tour of the country, Prince Andrew officially unveiled the town hall extension in 1992, and more recently Prince Edward visited the same building as his brother and the new Park Lane-based Learning Zone in 2008.

Record holders include Cyril Taylor, who had the distinction of holding office longer than most after his stint in 1976, following the untimely death of Frank Sims.

And the current mayor and deputy, councillors Thelma Jackson and Alift Harewood, are the first all-women team.

One of the more interesting stories comes from mayor Walter Wright.

Walter saved up the pennies to jet across the pond to Macclesfield, North Carolina, USA.

The namesake town was celebrating its centennial in May 2001, a case of the ‘special relationship’! He even featured in the local paper, the Wilson Times.

Thelma Jackson, who marked her tenth anniversary as a borough councillor by becoming the first citizen, said: "I really enjoy talking to children about the role and we welcome lots of school parties in to tell them about the mayor, what we wear and why the role exists."

But even with a glittering career as a public servant, she would have never dreamed of holding the title.

"I loved going to Prestbury School to talk to them," she added.

"I went to officially open their new toilets, but I explained I was a local and I would never have believed when I was their age that I would become mayor."

But most of this would not have been possible without the sterling work of backroom staff.

The mayor’s office has been run for the best part of the last 20 years by secretary Sandra Hart and mayor’s officer Bob Toms.

But in the new era of local governance, Macclesfield will still be able to stand proud, as the Mayor of Macclesfield Town will replace the 35-year-old title of the Mayor of the Borough of Macclesfield

If this potted history has whetted your appetite, a collection of around 50 pictures of the Mayor of the Borough of Macclesfield can be seen as part of the BIG Macclesfield Exhibition, to be held on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, at Macclesfield Town Hall.

Entrance is free and there will be guided tours of the building.

Thanks to Tony Barker of MBC for helping to gather information on the borough’s proud mayoral history.

Listed here is the roll-call of Macclesfield borough mayor’s to hold the position since 1974.