Week beginning May 13th 2002

This week sees the historic celebration of the Mayor-making ceremonies in Hedon. The office of Mayor of Hedon dates back to the charter of 1348, and on Thursday 16th the outgoing Mayor, Cllr. Mrs. Ann Suggit, will hand over to Cllr. Allen Marshall, who will serve as Mayor of Hedon for the coming year. As in previous years the centuries-old custom of scrambling for pennies will take place after the official mayor-making ceremony in the Town Hall in St. Augustine's Gate, when the new Mayor will come to the steps of the Town Hall and toss handfuls of pennies into the street for local children to collect (and keep!)

Also on May 16th, the village of Paull will hold its Annual Parish Meeting at 7pm in the village school on Main Street. This meeting, like all Parish Council meetings, is open to members of the public, and if any resident of the parish would like anything adding to the agenda to be discussed at this meeting, please put the matter in writing and hand it in to any Parish Councillor (names and addresses can be found in the Parish Council notice board, opposite the Post Office.) An ordinary Parish Council meeting will follow the Annual Parish Meeting.

Hedon Playing Field Association's Gala Prince or Princess will be chosen on Friday 17th May at 6pm in the Alexandra Hall, St. Augustine's Gate. Entries are invited from boys and girls aged between 5 and 11 - details are obtainable from all the local schools or ring Mr. K. Senior on 890042. The winner will be invited to the Hedon Playing Field Gala on May 25th, starting at 10am, and will be invited by the Mayor of Hedon to the Jubilee Gala on June 3rd. There will also be other official duties for the Prince or Princess of Hedon to perform.

In brief : Senior Citizens bus passes will be issued at the Alexandra Hall, St. Augustine's Gate, Hedon, between 1 and 3 pm on the 13th, 20th and 27th May.

There will be a coffee morning every Saturday in May held in the Crown Inn, Main Street, Paull, between 10am and 12 noon. Admission will be 50p for adults and 20p for children, including refreshments, and all proceeds will go towards the children's Jubilee Party.

The May Day stall and Tombola held in Hedon raised £336 towards the Mayor's Golden Jubilee Fund. Thanks are expressed to all who donated prizes, manned the stall or supported the event in any way.

Come and see the Cavaliers challenge the Roundheads on Saturday May 18th! Fort Paull continues its series of historical re-enactments with a visit from King Charles I Cavaliers. The Fort, on Battery Road off Thorngumbald Road, Paull, opens at 10am and features static historical military displays as well as re-enactments.

Regular readers of my column will have noticed that I write very little from the village of Preston. This is not a deliberate omission on my part - it is simply because I have no news from Preston to report! If you live in or near Preston and have anything you would like me to include in my column, please get in touch with me, either by email or phone : if I can't be reached on the phone, please leave full details on my message-minder.