THE new Lyme Regis Mayor praised the ‘essential’ work of LymeNet as she announced it as her charity of the year.

Coun Sally Holman revealed that she would be supporting the Lyme Regis community learning centre at the mayor-making ceremony in the Guildhall last Wednesday.

In choosing her charity, Coun Holman said she considered where the need is greatest in the community.

She said LymeNet supports the ‘less advantaged’, young people, the working population, the elderly, and job seekers.

“It’s essential to Lyme because we are so far from any other major centre, so I wish to promote its work and help its viability,” she said.

Coun Holman said a ‘forward-looking’ council had been elected.

She praised long-standing former councillors Stan Williams, Ken Meech, Ken Whetlor, and Peter Williams.

She said she has ‘every confidence’ in her deputy Coun Daryl Turner, who has ‘Lyme’s best interests in mind and heart’.

Toasting the council, the Rev Keith Vivian welcomed new councillors.

He said: “We will all support and encourage them as they take up the challenge that is offered to them.”

In response, Coun Lorna Jenkin said she has spent many hours at County Hall fighting the library closures.

“I have come away with a certain delight that our own decision-making process here is more democratic and more transparent,” she said.

In a toast to the council’s officers and staff, former councillor Ken Meech praised mayor’s secretary Pat Stamp who has completed 30 years’ service, and town clerk Mike Lewis who has worked for the council for 25 years.

He added: “The staff serve us well and I pay tribute to their dedication and devotion.”

Responding, town clerk Mr Lewis said: “Our staff are more of a team than ever before and I particularly appreciate the level of support I receive.”

Toasting the town, Lyme Regis Development Trust chief executive Marcus Dixon said: “Lyme is defined by its people who seem to seldom agree on things to begin with, but who share a passion and commitment to make Lyme Regis as good as it can be.”

Responding, deputy mayor Daryl Turner said: “We have got the hub and hopefully a new skatepark soon,” he said. “We still need housing, we need better jobs, we need the town of Lyme Regis to thrive.”

Toasting the press and media, Coun Mark Gage said: “Most people learn what we (the council) do via the press and media. We therefore are dependent on them for their accurate and unbiased reporting.”

Gordon Smith from Lyme Regis TV said with the availability of the internet, ‘every one of us is the media’.

He said: “We live now in a time of instant reportage.”

Coun Holman’s sister Jane Whittington will be mayoress, and Coun Turner’s deputy mayoress is his wife Cathie Turner.

Coun Holman, who announced the Rev Jane Skinner as Mayor’s Chaplain, invited everyone in the town to join her at a civic service in St Michael’s Parish Church on Sunday, July 3.