Rasen mayor celebrates record tenure

Councillors at Market Rasen Town Council’s virtual full council meeting on Wednesday (July 22) voted in favour of accepting Lincolnshire County Council’s recommendation to postpone mayor, deputy mayor and committee elections until the new civic year in 2021.

The decision means Coun Matthews is now in his seventh year as mayor - a record tenure for the town council.

He said: “We took the lead from county council - because of lockdown, formal elections couldn’t be held in person.

“I’m still very proud to be mayor and every time I put the chain on it brings a smile to my face.

“I’m the longest serving mayor in history in Market Rasen.

“People say to me ‘why did you join the council and board of governors at school’ [De Aston].

“It’s all about putting something back into the community.

“I’ve got the time to give to it, helping the town.

“I do feel that as proud as I am to be mayor, without blowing my own trumpet, I’m quite good at it, and I’ve put a lot of effort into it.

“With the greatest respect to my predecessors, they didn’t have the time to attend as many civics.”

The mayor’s charities will also remain the same for the 20/21 civic year - they will be the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and The Fire Fighters Charity.

Coun Stephen Bunney will remain as deputy mayor and Coun Margaret Lakin-Whitworth will stay as chairman of the planning committee.