I retired from full time work in 2009 at the age of 62, believing I would start to take life easy. For a few years it worked, as I travelled to many far-flung places, made lots of new friends and enjoyed a freedom I’d never really known. But I had an itch that needed scratching – a desire to do more, contribute more, and to learn more.
That’s why, at the age of 72, I found myself entering local politics. It was a way to satisfy my yearning for all those things and to find a sense of fulfilment that keeps me ticking over. I wanted to make a difference.
It also keeps me young and gives me a purpose. I love being busy, and as Mayor, I’m busier than ever. In the ten weeks since becoming Mayor on 21st May, I have attended 45 Mayoral engagements, had 22 Council meetings, visited numerous events during the ten-day Frome Festival, spent precious time with my family and hosted four social gatherings at home. That’s what makes me realise how lucky I am. Not many people of my age have this level of opportunity to engage with such a wide range of people.
Everything I’ve attended has not only given me enormous pleasure but I’m learning so much along the way.
The meetings that have been closest to my heart are those in tune with my focus for the year which is ‘Young or young at heart’. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Youth Club, the Children’s Festival, school presentations and awards evenings and working with Openstorytellers and Critchill School.
Also, meeting older folk at Alzheimers and Parkinson’s groups and ‘Songs for the Memory’ has brought me into contact with so many people who still consider themselves ‘young at heart’.
I’ve often heard it said that ‘youth is wasted on the young!’ Not a bit of it! Young people today, that I’ve had the privilege to meet, have wonderful imaginations, great talent, extraordinary ability and energy to die for. It heartens me to know that so many are keen to learn and have such amazing ambition. They won’t tolerate hatred, speak out about social injustice and care deeply about the planet.
I applaud those parents, teachers and volunteers who encourage tolerance, understanding and empathy. It’s helping to create a world our grandchildren will be proud to inherit.
It saddens me that when young people finish school, they often leave to attend colleges in Bath or Trowbridge for further education courses. We must work harder to ensure they have opportunities in the town for work placements or apprenticeships. If any local businesses are able to offer such opportunities, it would be fabulous to hear about it.
It was wonderful to hear Bill Revans, Leader of Somerset Council, announce the news that this August, Bridgwater & Taunton College and Strode College will officially unite to form the University College Somerset College Group, providing many opportunities for our young people to remain in the county.
What I would love to see is that same opportunity for Frome. If we had our own further education facility it would help to keep our young people in the town rather than lose them to Bath or Wiltshire College in Trowbridge.
Likewise , if small businesses wish to expand there’s limited opportunity to find larger premises in Frome, so to prevent them moving elsewhere we must make sure that developers incorporate medium size workspaces to accommodate them, something Frome Town Council is conscious of, and working hard to influence.
Our young people are the lifeline to a prosperous and sustainable future for Frome and it’s down to the rest of us to fight for them. All ideas welcome!
