I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the town and people of Macclesfield for the honour of being your mayor this year.

The warmth of the reception, and the support, has been humbling. I stood and was elected to the town council, and took on the role as mayor in your service. An approach that Susan the mayoress has followed, she is one of the town council volunteers, a role she loves. 

I believe I have been the first Scottish Mayor of Macclesfield, something I will dine out on for many years. 

Macclesfield is like Hamilton where I hail from, a grounded down to earth place, with a strong community. It is just warmer and drier. In my time as mayor I have tried to bring you a touch of Scotland, to bring the mayor closer to the people he serves, by taking some of the formality out of the role.

I prefer as mayor to be called my name Sandy not by the formal title, I have worn the robes sparingly and only to mark the major occasions D-Day, Remembrance etc, and may have been seen wearing bright red trainers. You can after all take the boy out of Lanarkshire you cant take Lanarkshire out of the man. 

Sandy with Mayoress Susan Livingstone at the at the Burns Night Ceilidh in January (Credit: MTC)

As mayor, I have had the privilege to see the strength and depth of our community.

From our charities, community groups, churches, veterans, and sports clubs, it is inspiring.

Truly, if there is something you are interested in or need support from or wish support, we have a group for you.

For those who say nothing happens here or there is nothing to do, 'away and behave yourself' as they say in Scotland, get yourself out there! 

Sandy and Marc Jackson at last year's MaccPow (Credit: MTC)

My mayoral theme has been 'Building Our Future Together'.

Our location, the quality of our schools, our hospitality sector, independent businesses, arts, music, culture and heritage are the foundations of our future.

They will market and sell the town to those we want to visit and spend time with us.

I work in property development. Physical change and improvement will come, it will take time, from my experience it will only bring lasting change if it is founded on what is already here. 

I will continue work beyond my time as mayor to bring this forward working with our MP Tim Roca and my fellow councillors.

We are working on breathing the South Park Pavilion into life, I know how to build, I am learning more about leases, licenses and charitable trustees I ever thought I would have to. 

Sandy with friends and family at Northern Light earlier this year (Credit: MTC)

This year I had the honour of marking the 80th anniversary of D Day, VE Day and Remembrance. An opportunity to thank and remember that special generation. Our War Memorial now includes 25 new names of those previously forgotten. I take no credit for this only gratitude for those who made it happen especially Harry Carlisle.  

In my time by ziplining down a quarry in Wales, a Burns Night Ceilidh, and other events I have raised £6,500 for my two charities Space 4 Autism and Macclesfield Community Space.

Thank you those that donated encouraging people in the community to be creative through art, and supporting children and adults with autism are close to my heart.

I finish my time with my last big event the 10th Birthday Party of the town council on May 17.

Sandy recently handed out the Mayor's Civic Awards (Credit: MTC)

I had the absolute pleasure recently of giving out the Mayor Civic Awards, to a list of people and organisation that thoroughly deserved it. 

Those nominated and awarded matched my wish list. Wishes answered and rewards given whilst the Male Voice Choir and Welsh Singers sang.

Surrounded by the incredible art work of our local schools who have taken part in my Mayors Art Challenge. Perfect. 

On Castle Street in the town centre there is a love letter to Macclesfield carved into the stone. This is mine.