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Mayor of Bury St Edmunds is reinstated ahead of historic Jankyn Smyth event




History was made in Bury St Edmunds last week after a council voted to reinstate the position of town mayor.

Bury St Edmunds Town Council agreed to adopt the titles of mayor and deputy mayor, which haven’t been taken up at town level since 2007, during a four hour meeting last Wednesday.

The titles will replace those of council chairman and vice-chairman, with Cllrs Peter Thompson and Paul Hopfensperger taking up the positions of mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

Bury St Edmunds Town Council reinstated its mayor and deputy mayor in time for the historic cake and ale ceremony. (13212315)
Bury St Edmunds Town Council reinstated its mayor and deputy mayor in time for the historic cake and ale ceremony. (13212315)

The change comes after the merger of St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council saw the loss of borough status and as a result, the title of Mayor of St Edmundsbury.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Thompson said: “This is one of the biggest concerns for people that I’ve seen in my time as a councillor. People are very emotional about it and we want to serve them.”

The council voted in favour of changing the names but on the condition that a mayoral committee is formed to discuss whether or not the new mayor will take on the extra responsibilities that go along with the role.

This came after town clerk Greg Luton told councillors that dividing the role of mayor between councillors was not an option – a move which the council had considered as a way to lessen the load on the chairman who would have to balance work with the many civic events.

“Now it’s a case of how this council wishes to establish what they want to do and how it keeps within the resources that we as a council have at our disposal,” said Greg.

Cllr Paul Hopfensperger, deputy mayor of Bury St Edmunds (13369017)
Cllr Paul Hopfensperger, deputy mayor of Bury St Edmunds (13369017)

Nevertheless, residents of Bury St Edmunds didn’t have to wait long to see the civic leaders in action.

The annual Jankyn Smyth celebration was held at St Mary’s Church last Thursday, followed by the cake and ale ceremony at The Guildhall.

Cllr Hopfensperger attended the event in the traditional deputy mayor’s robes which had been borrowed from West Suffolk Council for the occasion.

“This is the first mayoral function performed by the newly reinstated mayoralty,” he said.

“I don’t believe that we could have picked a more worthy day for this and I hope Jankyn Smyth is looking down on us favourably here today in his beloved Bury St Edmunds.

“I am honoured to stand here today with fellow councillors, Feoffees, residents of Bury St Edmunds and the residents of the Guildhall Feoffment Trust almshouses.”

He added that, had the council not voted in favour of the changes, this would have been the first time in 506 years that a mayor did not attend the historic event.