AS the now retired Mayor of Stourport I would be most grateful if, through your pages, I could reflect on the mayoress's and my year of office.

As I said in my final statement at the annual meeting of the town council, the word that keeps coming to mind to describe the year is "fantastic".

We learned a tremendous amount about how much voluntary work is carried out, how many good things our young people do, how various businesses and other organisations function and so on.

We found people so kind and so grateful for our attendance at all manner of artistic and social events, as indeed we were grateful for the privilege of being asked.

In the light of all this I feel we really must convey our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped in so many ways to make that fantastic year .

I cannot, however, help picking out the pub regulars of Stourport who gave so generously to my sponsored cycle ride. I visited all the pubs and clubs in the town and am most grateful to the landlords and landladies who allowed me to take up their time.

That ride stands out as the easiest of events to organise and execute. If I have left anybody out, please forgive me. You, and everybody else, made it a year to remember!

DON GILES

Malham Road

Stourport