A new Mayor of Knaresborough has been elected at the annual meeting of the town council.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who has been a councillor since 2015, said she hoped to use her year for the benefit of a town which had made her welcome when she moved there.

She said:

“Since moving to Knaresborough 10 years ago, I have been in awe of this beautiful town and welcoming community.

“It is a place you want to give back to – so I am honoured to be given this opportunity and promise to work hard to champion our wonderful town as mayor.”

As well as sitting on Knaresborough Town Council, Cllr Gostlow represents Knaresborough East on North Yorkshire Council after being elected for the Liberal Democrats last year.

Her election as mayor was witnessed by mayors of neighbouring towns and representatives of community groups in Knaresborough at the annual meeting.

Cllr Gostlow’s chosen charities for the year will be Inspire Youth and Knaresborough Community Energy Limited. She added:

“The sense of community is so strong. We are spoilt by the number of events throughout the year, delivered with such creativity and enthusiasm, thriving independent businesses, schools, church communities, and there are so many amazing community groups, run and supported by dedicated individuals.

“So, when it came to choosing the charity to support, it was a very difficult decision.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough town crier Roger Hewitt prepares for final cry
• BedFest to add festival feel to Knaresborough Bed Race

Mark Hunter has won a contest to become Knaresborough’s next town crier.

In a ‘cry-off’ with two other entrants described by organisers as “almost too close to call”, Mr Hunter was selected to succeed Roger Hewitt.

The competition took place during Knaresborough Community Festival on Saturday, which celebrated the town’s many community organisations.

Organised by the Knaresborough & District Chamber, which manages the town crier position, the event saw competitors give renditions of Mr Hewitt’s pre-prepared cry and their own original contributions.

Retiring town crier Roger Hewitt introduces the second round of the competition. Pic: Charlotte-Gale

Mr Hewitt and fellow judges Cllr Kathryn Davies, Mayor of Knaresborough and chamber executive member Charlotte Gale selected Mr Hunter to be the town’s next town crier and the other two candidates — Leigh Hudson and Andrew Richards — to serve as deputies.

Knaresborough-born and bred Mr Hunter has sung in the choir at St John’s Church and is the church’s current director of music.

He is also a keen amateur naturalist and wildlife photographer.

Ms Gale said:

“We’re delighted to invite Mark to be Knaresborough’s next town crier.

“It was a fantastic competition and we’d like to thank all our contestants for the huge effort they put into it and for their entertaining performances on the day. It certainly made the role of judging a tough one.

“We will be very sad to see Roger go and we’d like to pay tribute to eight years of outstanding service, but we are also looking forward to a new chapter and the continuation of this historic role in Knaresborough.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough festival to return with town crier contest this weekend
• Two children admit Knaresborough graffiti outbreak

Mayor of Knaresborough Kathryn Davies added:

“Records show there has been a town crier in Knaresborough since the early 1600s, although the tradition probably dates back to earlier times.

“In those days the town crier used to be called the bell man. Literacy amongst the general populace would have been low and the bell man fulfilled an important role in delivering news to local townsfolk.

“Although literacy rates are now much improved, the popularity of the role means that Knaresborough Town Council, Knaresborough and District Chamber and the people of Knaresborough are keen to maintain this important tradition for the town.”

Main pic: Charlotte Gale, Leigh Hudson, Mark Hunter, Roger Hewitt, Mayor Kathryn Davies and Andrew Richards (entrant)

Knaresborough man and former police commissioner Philip Allott has written a book on marketing.

Integrated Business to Business Marketing provides “a complete blueprint for success in communicating promotional messages in the digital age”.

Mr Allott, who founded PR company Allott and Associates in 1994, said the book builds on his “40 years of practical experience” of marketing.

It is written for business owners, directors and marketing managers in the UK and abroad and covers topics such as how material written for press releases can be used for social media platforms and e-newsletters.

Mr Allott is a former leader of the Conservatives on Harrogate Borough Council and a former Mayor of Knaresborough who stood unsuccessfully in several general elections for the Conservative Party.

He was elected North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in May last year but resigned in October in the wake of comments about the murder of Sarah Everard.

Read more:

• Police commissioner Philip Allott resigns
• Record turnout for return of Knaresborough farmers’ tractor run

Mr Allott is also the author of The Donkeyman, which was published in 2007. It talks about the life and times of his donkey-breeding father, who was known as Donkey Dave.

His new book, which is distributed by John Hunt Publishing, will be available from next month on Amazon and at Waterstones.

Local democracy is facing an unprecedented challenge as parish, district and county councils find ways to work and continue decision-making when they cannot meet in person.

The business of councils is being completed through powers delegated to officers or in online meetings – including this week’s cabinet meeting at Harrogate Borough Council.

The ceremonial roles of mayors and their deputies are usually handed over at annual meetings in May. The traditional ceremonies are not currently possible, but some new mayors are still taking up the reins across the Harrogate district.

Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge both have new mayors after completing their official declarations remotely.

The incoming Boroughbridge mayor Coun Pat Taylor was sworn in from May 1st, taking over after Coun Geoff Haldenby concluded his two-year term of office. Town clerk John Nichols said:

“We have gone through the protocols and it has been done in accordance with our regulations. We just couldn’t get people together for our mayor-making ceremony. We may hold a retrospective event when we can.”

In Pateley Bridge, a Zoom meeting saw Coun Mike Holt complete his declarations online, with the official documents to be signed when social distancing measures allow. He takes over from Coun Chris Skaife and, although the council does not hold a ceremony, the usual service and civic reception could still take place later in the year.

Coun Eamon Parkin will remain Mayor of Ripon until the city council can meet again

In Ripon and Knaresborough, the current mayor will stay in post for now. Ripon City Council’s current mayor, Coun Eamon Parkin, will continue in his role until the council can meet to make a decision about how to proceed with a new mayor. City clerk Paula Benson said:

“The nature of the mayor’s role will change because there are no mayoral functions to attend. While he carries out a civic role, he is also the chairman of the council in law.

“The requirement to hold an annual meeting has been relaxed, so the current office holder can carry on. The council needs a chairman, so we’re following that piece of legislation, passed last month.”

Mrs Benson is carrying out routine work, such as giving responses to planning applications in line with Ripon City Plan, which has been adopted as its policy. However, decisions about future activities such as choosing a contractor to supply Christmas lights have been put on hold until meetings resume.

She said that, should socially-distanced meetings be resumed in the coming months, the council will have to consider how this might be done in a way that will still allow the public to attend safely.

‘It wouldn’t be fair’

In Knaresborough, Coun Christine Willoughby is expecting to continue her mayoral role for now and potentially for the full year, subject to a final decision by the town council.

“We aren’t able to hold an annual meeting and do a change-over. If we did it in a few months’ time, it wouldn’t be fair on the new mayor to do a short year.”

Coun Willoughby said the business of the council is carrying on, including negotiating a new Christmas lights contract and agreeing a grant for FEVA. The latter will support street entertainment in August, if social distancing guidance at the time allows.

Harrogate Borough Council, meanwhile, says it has not yet made a decision on how to proceed, with its planned mayor-making ceremony due to have taken place on May 18th. Coun Stuart Martin, who has held the role of mayor for the last year, said he expects a decision to be made next week after any change in government guidance over the weekend.

North Yorkshire County Council’s AGM has been postponed. The chairman, Coun Jim Clark of Harrogate Harlow division, and vice chairman Robert Heseltine of Skipton East, will continue in their roles until the meeting can be held either virtually or in person.