Trio of former mayors stand down from Oswestry Town Council

Councillors Peter Cherrington, Chris Schofield and Vince Hunt have all decided not to seek re-election to the town council next month.

Councillors Schofield and Hunt are candidates in the Shropshire Council elections.

Town councillors have paid tribute to the work of the three at recent meetings.

For Councillor Cherrington it marks the end of almost two decades of services with the council, although he stressed that he had not ruled out making a bid to return in four years time.

"I am taking a break after many years of involvement in the community which included working with homeless people and then the eastern Oswestry Community Service in the years before I became a councillor," he said.

He was also a member of the Oswestry Borough Council before it ceased in 2009.

"I was to have been the mayor for that year and in fact, I became mayor for just a few hours and was even given my medal," he said.

Pleasure

Councillor Chris Schofield said that having taken the decision to stand down after 15 years on the town council, he could honestly say it had been a pleasure to represent the people of Oswestry.

"My term as Mayor with my wife Val being mayoress in 2013 was certainly a highlight of my time on the council. We arranged a masked ball which raised a substantial amount for the Bone Cancer charity and Macmillan nurses.

"Another highlight has been working with a small group of people to set up what has become the Future Oswestry group. This will now bring in well over £1 million investment into the town centre which is fantastic news."

For Councillor Vince Hunt, mayor in 2017/18 he said that the first highlight of his year was being able to have his daughter, 16-year-old Amber, as his Mayoress.

"She was outstanding, and the pride that I felt, and indeed still feel, in watching her perform the role with confidence and elegance was not just a highlight then but will be for the rest of my life."

He said he had also been delighted to be able to raise more than £6,000 for local charities, Connect for life, Designs in mind, and U&I.

"The U&I counselling charity works with local youngsters and their families, and are now so crucial to many in the town post lockdown."