Thatcham's outgoing mayor gives local charities a boost

Lee Dillon handed over cheques to three charities for more than £800 each at the mayor's civic reception on Friday evening (May 11).
Each of the charities, Newbury and Thatcham branch of Parkinson’s UK, Thatcham Relief in Need and ‘14:21’, received £885.72 each, after a total of £2657.16 was raised in Mr Dillon's year as mayor.
The founder of the Newbury and Thatcham branch of Parkinson’s UK, Mary Hansford, accepted the cheque for her charity, and David Wootton received the funds on behalf of the Thatcham Relief in Need charity.
The money was raised at various events, such as the Festival of Arts and Leisure, Thatcham Family Fun Day and Junior Fun Run in the Field and various competitions and other events.
Mr Dillon held his community reception at the Frank Hutchings Community Hall, Bradley-Moore Square, to thank all the people who had helped him during his year, including fellow councillors, representatives from town organisations and charities.
The celebration was also that chance for Mr Dillon to round off and wrap up his second consecutive year as mayor.
He said that the best thing about being mayor for the second time was that he was able to visit groups that he did not get a chance to visit the first time around and that he had made a deliberate attempt to visit these groups and events.
He added that three very different charities had been chosen to receive the cash and said: "The residents responded very well by donating a large amount of money. I hope it makes a difference.
"Being mayor has given me the opportunity to go around to community organisations to hear about the good work that's going on in the town.
"There's a support in the town and a togetherness that I don't think can be broken."
He added: "It's been a brilliant year for the council and it's going to be an even better year coming forward."
He will now hand over he reins to the new mayor who will be announced on Sunday (May 20).
See next week's Thatcham news, in the Newbury Weekly News, for an interview with the new mayor.