Mayor’s Message: A month for fundraising and congratulations

So much for April showers – we had a perfect day for the Mayor’s Spring Fair in Pages Park last weekend which so many of you attended to help raise awareness and funds for Freddie and Friends – thank you!

Thank you also to Leighton-Linslade Town Council and their staff who made it all work so well. I particularly enjoyed the goat who joined in one of the doggy competitions.

Many of you may know that the Splash & Play in Parson’s Close Recreation Ground has been having a complete renewal and will be opening this Saturday, 2 May. I had the great pleasure of presenting the trophies to the Heads of Mary Bassett and Beaudesert Schools in front of their students who, respectively, created the winning designs for the floor and back wall of the feature. Ustigate, the company delivering the renewed Splash & Play, also showed the the children how their designs had been transformed into reality. Their reaction was absolutely delightful, leaving several of us almost in tears at their sheer joy.

Last Saturday, the Mayoress and I enjoyed a lovely evening of music at All Saints Church provided by the fabulous Bedfordshire Band of the Royal British Legion to celebrate St George’s Day. They are very talented, so try and catch them, if you can, at one of their many concerts throughout the year.

Congratulations to Leighton Town FC and Leighton Buzzard RFC for winning promotion from their respective leagues.

I’m proud to know Neil Mills of SD Carpentry who has just completed a 950 mile trip on foot round the UK, in 21 days raising funds and awareness for Young Lives vs Cancer - an astonishing feat. I saw him yesterday and he looks as fresh as a daisy.

On a similar theme, my last Mayoral duty for April is welcoming home Harry Sear of Reclaim Life. He has also been on a marathon trip around the country over the last few weeks, but in a vintage Talbot called Lavinia. Supported by the Leighton Linslade Rotary Club, he has visited many other Rotary Clubs to raise awareness and promote the creation of other Reclaim Life centres.

Hats off to both Neil and Harry for their selflessness, endurance and sense of community.

Please remember the May Day Fayre organised by the Leighton Linslade Rotary Club is being held in the High Street and Parsons Close Rec on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May. There’ll be lots of fun and entertainment for all the family as well a chance to chat to local voluntary and sports groups.

My next and last fundraising event as Town Mayor will be a Ceilidh with live music at Astral Park Pavilion on 15th May to help raise funds and awareness for Spectrum Community Arts. For more details and to book your tickets please visit the Town Council’s website or App or contact Julie Murphy at the White House.

Dust off your dancing shoes - I hope to see you all there!