Cllr Amanda Tame chaired her last full council meeting of Bude-Stratton Town Council on Wednesday, January 11 ahead of her temporary leave from Council duties after nearly two years in the role.
In a post on the town council’s social media pages, the Mayor was wished the best of luck for her maternity leave and thanked for her hard work.
In a message to residents, Cllr Tame wrote: “It’s been a really challenging couple of years with huge rewards and amazing experiences along the way. I’ve learned so much and I must thank everyone for their kindness and patience.
“Everyone of us is here because they want to make things better - for our area, for our residents and for our families. So many good things have happened in the last two years, and I feel so privileged to have been even a tiny part of it.”
Cllr Phillipa Purchase praised the work of the Mayor, saying: “Amanda has been an inspiration for the new councillor group since she became Mayor in May 2021. She had no previous experience of being a councillor when she was elected but stepped into the Mayor role at our first meeting and has been an excellent “Mayor and Chair” for the past 18 months. She has chaired our meetings with calm, dignity and fairness, and she has been a great representative for the town council at many public events.
“A highlight for me was when she gave the opening speech in Cornish at the Gorsedh held in Bude in 2021. I wish her all the best over the coming months and look forward to having her back on the council as soon as she is able”
During the Mayor’s absence, Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jackie Diffey will chair full council meetings and in the event of her absence, present councillors would vote on which one chairs that meeting.