I’d like to start by thanking Cllr Farrow for doing such an outstanding job over the last two years and for steering us through such an unprecedented period. Hopefully, the next twelve months will see a gradual return to some form of normality for all of us. I’d also like to thank my fellow councillors for putting their faith in me to be the Town Mayor and I would ask that you keep longstanding Town Councillor, George Watkinson, in mind as we go through this evening’s meeting – it should have been him. I never imagined when I first came to Petersfield almost 47 years ago to do my basic Radio Operator training at HMS Mercury that I would settle here and make this town my home. My wife and I bought our house here in 1984 and after retiring from the navy and training as a mental health nurse I jumped at the chance of working in Petersfield which I did for twelve years. It is therefore a massive honour to become Mayor of the town that now means so much to me. As a council we have some exciting projects underway and some very important decisions ahead of us. I’m looking forward to it.

Cllr Phil Shaw, Petersfield Town Mayor