As your Mayor this year I set a theme of Building Our Future Together. Looking forward to our future and respecting our heritage. 

As many of know, I am from Hamilton in Scotland which is homeland, Macclesfield is my home. I believe I am the first Scottish Mayor, even if this isn't true it is a great story. During half term I went north to visit relatives and old friends. Distance can give you perspective. What is that we have that brings people to our town and embraces them? 

Macclesfield is a town set next to the Peak District, close to but not in Manchester, on a main line , a grounded former mill town grounded with a sense of its identity. Our schools and college are great. The community is strong here, if you put your hand up and foot forward there is a wide range of community groups, charities, churches where you can find friendship and a warm welcome. The Town Council now has over thirty volunteers we couldn't do what we do without them. If you have an interest, we have a group for you in the town.

We have independent spirit, and a thriving arts, culture and music scene. From the 01625 gallery, to Arts Space, Room for Comics and Macc Pow for comics and exhibitions at the Silk Museum creativity is alive and well. You can listen to and enjoy, classical music, choirs, folk music, rock and pop. February saw a Book Festival in our historical Christ Church, as a lover of a good book , and a nice piece of cake I was a regular attendee after I had finished my volunteer gardener duties there. The Button Warehouse also hosts regular poetry evenings. It would be great in the longer term to have our own annual book festival throughout the town. 

All of these events plus the regular creative events the Town Council holds attract our residents, they also bring visitors to support our independent businesses and hospitality sector. In my view that should build on the quality of our welcome, and our culture and businesses to define our town and give visitors a reason to come. We are being noticed nationally. This is why my family and I settled in Macclesfield and why we have never looked back or regretted it. 

The mayor hosted a Burns Night Ceilidh in January (Credit: MTC)

Talking of culture. Thank you to all of you who attended my Burns Night Ceilidh in the Town Hall. With the support of the Town Council staff, R&G Beer Vault, the Treacle Town Pie Company, and the Maggory Band we toasted the Bard Robert Burns, addressed the Haggis, drank whisky, beer and Irn Bru, Stripped the Willow and danced the Dashing White Sergeant. There were a few sore bodies afterwards, Ceilidh dancing is energetic, can be a contact sport if you get wrong, it is also community dancing everyone joins in. We raised £2200 for my two charities Space 4 Autism and Macclesfield Community Art Space. 

I appreciate there has been some disappointment that that the Treacle Market has been cancelled a couple of time in recent months due to high winds. A difficult decision but the right one, Andy and Becky have my full support of their decision. The weather is improving and I would ask you come out and support the next market, show your love and appreciation. 

Finally I will be shortly launching my Mayor's Civic Awards. If there someone young or old, a group, a business, a charity you think is worthy of being recognised by our Town please nominate them. I will be hosting the Civic Awards on the 11^th May in the Town Hall. I hope this will be a celebration of our town. 

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