News: Mayor for the Day

Release date: 19th April 2010

Coventry’s Lord Mayor was happy to pass over his chain of office and get on with the spade work as he approaches the end of his year in office.

One of the prizes at Councillor Jack Harrison’s auction dinner at the Hilton Coventry was to spend a day with him carrying out his Mayoral duties.

Stephen Hammon, the managing director of Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Meriden Road, Fillongley, was the successful bidder.

After being shown round the beach and having a ride on a pedallo at the multi-use 160-acre site, Cllr Harrison planted the 7,000th tree at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre which was donated by Kenilworth-based Burrow Hill Nurseries.

They were then taken in the Mayoral car to the Council House in Coventry to attend a Citizenship Ceremony.

This was followed by a visit to the Neonatal Unit at the University Hospital which is one of the Lord Mayor’s chosen charities and a tour around Caludon Castle School where Cllr Harrison is Chair of the governing body.

Stephen said it had been a fascinating and insightful day.

“There was much more involved in being Lord Mayor than I realised,” he said. “I can tell that he really enjoys being Lord Mayor – he is like Father Christmas but without the red robe.

“We have been planting trees to improve our carbon footprint for the last few months and we were delighted that he planted a flowering cherry tree as our 7,000th tree.

“It was a real pleasure to go with the Lord Mayor to the hospital to see the vital work they do and how the money that has been raised for the Neonatal Unit during his year in office is definitely helping families in Coventry and Warwickshire.

“It was interesting to go to Caludon Castle School where I used to be a student, but it is completely different now with the magnificent new buildings and all the new facilities, including the swimming pool.

“I would like to thank the Lord Mayor for a day to remember.”

Councillor Harrison added: “There are not too many days remaining of my year in office and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I hope my passion for the city and its people were apparent to Stephen as he helped me perform my civic duties.

“It was a typical day meeting a variety of people in different locations and the generosity of Stephen in bidding to win the prize at the auction has been instrumental in helping me support the worthwhile work carried out at charities across the city.”