USK'S new Mayor Councillor Elizabeth Fleming was installed at the town council's AGM earlier this month reports Rob Westall. At the meeting' outgoing Mayor Councillor Kay Peacock gave an emotional farewell speech to the town council' reflecting on what had been an enjoyable year in office in which she managed to raise £5,222 for her chosen charities including more than £2,000 for the Tsunami Appeal. Councillor Peacock paid tribute to her "wonderful group of friends and townspeople" for all their support. She reflected on some of the issues that had been tackled by the town council during her time as mayor such as meeting Prisons Minister Paul Goggins MP at Westminster and at Prescoed to discuss the government's controversial policy of sending sex offenders to Prescoed Open Prison. She said the issue would remain on the agenda until the "crazy policy" is reversed. She described speaking in Welsh at the Wales in Bloom presentation as one of the greatest challenges of her tenure and said, "It has been a honour and privilege to serve the town and I wish Councillor Fleming every success in her year as mayor." Councillor Jeff Mitchell was appointed Deputy Mayor for the third time, having served in the role previously in 1981/82 and 1986/87.

ALTHOUGH not born and bred in Usk, new Town Mayor Councillor Elizabeth Fleming (pictured) feels very much at home. Councillor Fleming has lived in Usk for 30 years after moving to the town from the London area and has been a member of the town council for 18 years. Amateur music making is one of the new mayor's hobbies and she sings with Monmouth Choral Society, local Church choir The Flying Shepherds as well as playing the violin in various local groups. "Although I'm not born and bred here, I feel local, especially as my three children were brought up in the town," said Councillor Fleming. "I stood as an independent candidate to give something back for the enjoyment I've had living here and to help the town develop for the future. "Usk has a very strong community and I stood for the council to help maintain the community spirit we've got - the surroundings, landscape, river and environment. "It's a good place to bring up children and also there's a quality of life in Usk that you don't get in other places - It's a much more caring community here." Councillor Fleming took early retirement from her profession as a physiotherapist in 2002, having worked in the Gwent area for a total of approximately 21 years at Nevill Hall and St Woolos Hospitals. This will be her second spell as mayor having previously held the post in 1993/94 when her youngest daughter Abigail acted as consort following the death of her first husband, Hugh Stephens. "I think the job is different to what it was last time - the obvious difference is that we now have Sessions House as a base for functions," said Councillor Fleming. "My consort for this year is my husband, Tony Fleming, an former chief personnel officer in local government who is the honorary curator of the Sessions House Law Library." Councillor Fleming's charity appeal for the year focuses on the youth of the town and she aims to help raise money for a new Scouts HQ in Usk; the new Brownie House at Broneirion; local youth sports projects and for the town's youth band's trip to Usk's German twin town of Grabenneudorf. "I'm very heavily involved in girl guiding in the town and in Monmouthshire and am a former Guide commissioner for the Monmouth area and programme and training organiser for leaders for the county of Gwent," she said. "Since 1987, with only a short break, I have been a leader of Usk Guides which is at present thriving with 34 girls in the Guide Unit." "I feel it's very important that youngsters have interesting pastimes to keep them occupied and to ensure they enjoy their free time and that there's plenty to do within the town." "I'm very proud to be mayor and two of my main aims are to fight the car parking charges and to continue with the fight against the transfer of sex offenders to Prescoed Open Prison and gain a reversal of the policy. "I'm looking forward to welcoming the Britain in Bloom judges to the town in August as the town represents Wales in this year's competition and representing the town at the 25th anniversary visit to Grabenneudorf in the Autumn. "Ultimately what it boils down to is to keep Usk the attractive and safe place it is to live in with the community spirit that we've got here. "I'm really proud to be able to represent Usk and am looking forward to my forthcoming year in office and raising lots of money for my chosen charities."