Dignitaries gather for Mayor's civicservice 'thank you' to supporters

ONE of the largest gatherings of civic dignitaries in Yorkshire took place yesterday at the Beverley Mayor’s civic service.

Every year, the market town’s first citizen holds a service at the church of his choice as a thank you for the support they have received during their civic year.

Yesterday, Mayor David Elvidge and the Mayoress, his fiance Janet Morris, led about 20 players from Beverley and District Pipe Band to St Mary’s in Beverley.

Mayors from all over the East Riding and parts of Lincolnshire were among the 46 civic guests, which also included the High Sheriff of the East Riding Patrick Farnsworth and his wife Anne.

More than 200 other guests waited in the church where the service was followed by a light buffet in the South Transept.

Looking back at the highlights of his civic year, Coun Elvidge said: “Everything has been fantastic. The proudest I have been is to be the person to bring the Armed Forces Day to Beverley and chair the event.”

Other proud moments included a number of twinning events, and the Food Festival, and the anniversary last year marking 600 years of the North Bar. He added: “I am also hoping to finish off some of the things I started including a memorial to those killed after the Second World War.”