Mayor leaves new shoots

Coun Janet Hirst was the Mayor of Mirfield until her term ended on Tuesday. The trees have been planted at all of the schools in Mirfield to mark St George’s Day, as well as the end of the Mayor’s year in office.

Coun Hirst said she wanted to do something to celebrate St George’s Day since Mirfield no longer has a parade for it.

She added: “I wanted to do the parade, but it’s hard getting people to come out. So I’ve donated the trees to celebrate St George’s Day, so then the schools are getting something out of it too.”

Coun Hirst, whose chosen charities for the year were the Mirfield Guides and Scouts, said her year in office had been ‘absolutely fantastic’.

At a full meeting of Mirfield Town Council on Tuesday, 16 councillors were sworn in to serve for the next four years.

Coun Pat Sutcliffe was elected to be Mayor of Mirfield, with Coun John Nottingham to serve as her deputy.

Coun Sutcliffe said: “I’m absolutely honoured. It’s like anything else in life – there are certain things that you think are an honour to do, and to be elected to be the face of your town, which you love, is an honour.

“I will do everything in my power to represent the people of Mirfield as best as I can.”

No election was held in Mirfield for the town council this year, as only candidates from the Conservative Party stood.

The Labour Party refused to field any candidates, saying it would not be appropriate, since it recently called for the abolition of the town council.

Mirfield’s town councillors are: Battyeford – Martyn Bolt, Alan Peter Burton, Michelle Gilbert, John David Nottingham and Andrew Steven White; Crossley – Elizabeth Yvonne Armitage, John Myron Sutcliffe and Christophe Walker; Eastthorpe – Janet Hirst, David Pinder and Pat Sutcliffe; Hopton – Mark Hamilton, Vivien Lees-Hamilton; Northorpe – Richard James Hartley, James Robert Taylor and Kathleen Taylor.