MAY I through the courtesy of your pages say to everyone a very big thank you for a most enjoyable mayoral year.

My mayoress, daughter Kath and I have had a truly wonderful year and we will carry always happy memories which we will never forget and for which we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

The town hall staff who support the mayoralty have been superb, unfailingly kind, understanding and above all efficient. My council colleagues have been completely supportive and generous.

All the hundreds of local and organisations especially the schools, that we have visited have given us genuine friendship and that traditional quality of hospitality for which this part of the world is renowned.

I have been very privileged to serve the people of Wigan borough as mayor and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

I was committed to the citizens of the borough before my year began and I am now even more committed to serve them in whatever way I can try to repay their kindness.

May I wish my successor as mayor, Cllr John Edward Hilton JP, all the joy in the office that I have experienced.

Joan Hurst

Former Mayor of Wigan