The outgoing mayor of Brighton and Hove Alan Robins has bowed out after two years in the chains and robes of office.
Unusually, he served two terms as mayor, as Brighton and Hove City Council grappled with the coronavirus pandemic.
Councillor Robins himself grappled with chairing virtual meetings of the full council just as many others had to learn how to use online conferencing software such as Zoom and Teams.
During his time in office, he married the mayoress, his long-time partner Val Cawley, after 37 years together. They tied the knot in the Mayor’s Parlour at Brighton Town Hall.
But he lost his sister Mary, 70, to coronavirus last August and paid her an emotional tribute while also speaking warmly of another Mary – Conservative councillor Mary Mears – who served as his deputy for the past two years.
She had been due to take over as mayor today but was unable to become the first citizen of Brighton and Hove because of ill health.
Green councillor Lizzie Deane, who was elected mayor at Brighton Town Hall this afternoon (Thursday 26 May), echoed his sentiments, wishing Councillor Mears well, and promised to serve with humility.
One of the outgoing mayor’s colleagues, Labour councillor Carmen Appich, said: “Alan has been an outstanding mayor in exceptional times.”
Councillor Robins said: “Of all the names on these walls, I bet I am the only one who’s ever chaired a council meeting in his pyjama bottoms and slippers.
“I have chaired 17 full council meetings in the last two years, probably a record for recent times, not one of them with a full house in person.
“It’s been an odd couple of years and I thank you all for allowing me a second year and for the kindness and goodwill you have all shown me over that time.
“The last thing I want is for my entire mayoralty to be dominated and defined by covid and the covid restrictions.
“Over the course of two years we have found ample time to enjoy the role of mayor and, at times, being able to meet online has meant we have met more groups and individuals than we could have done in person.”
He thanked the Interfaith Contact Group for serving as mayor’s chaplains, in particular, the Reverend Martin Poole and Anthea Ballam, and for introducing him to groups of all faiths and none.
Councillor Robins said: “I would like to thank my five charities – the Fringe, Leo House at Home, the Sussex Heart Charity, Off The fence and Together Co – for sticking with me. My only regret is we haven’t been able to hold as many events as we hoped.
“One of the great joys, privilege and honours of being mayor is the wonderful people you meet.
A good speech here by Mayor Robins – and a reminder that two decades ago there was a strong and welcome move to prevent the advent of Lord Bassam and Simon Fanshawe’s all-conquering “directly-elected” Mayor and, instead, to bring back the Committee system by which all Councillors can make their views known – and be voted upon.
Recently, Bristol has done away with a directly-elected Mayor and followed us in having a Committee system. Let us hope that more places do likewise.
Without the Committee system, we would have lost Hove Library – twice.