Afternoon Tea with the Lord Mayor

Afternoon Tea with the Lord Mayor : Report by Anna Gibson

Our school (Tattenhall Park Primary) recently entered a Cheshire School competition where we had to write or draw what we thought a 21st Century Mayor should do.

I was thrilled when I found out I had won and got to have afternoon tea with the Lord Mayor of Chester, Angela Claydon. This was held at Chester Town Hall on Thursday 9th March 2017. Winners from St Lukes' Catholic Primary, Eccelston Primary, Upton Heath Primary and Christleton were there too! (Mr Sarginson was invited along as my class teacher so I felt sorry for him when he said he couldn't come as he would be in Kingswood with Year 4! He missed really nice coffee!)

I enjoyed sitting on a long table in one of the ceremony rooms with other guests where we were served nice sandwiches and the best cakes ever! I had Millionaire's Shortbread and Chocolate Brownie which was amazing!
The mayor talked to us about her role and what it was like to be a Mayor in the 21st century. We also had a tour of the Mayor's private chambers which felt like a great honour. I was shocked at how heavy her chains and robes were. She told us that her biggest challenge as a Mayor was having to attend so many different events (about 5 a week) where she was asked to make a speech, sometimes about subjects she didn't know much about so it meant lots of homework.... even for a Mayor!
The other challenge was thinking about what she had to wear! She told us a story about having to attend the Duke of Westminster's memorial with the Royal family. She was sat with the Bishop of Chester's wife and the Lord Lieutenant, who had all been told different things about what they should wear! One was dressed in black, one was in dark purple and one was in bright blue! They stopped worrying when the Royal family arrived wearing black and the Duke's family came in bright colours!
Thank you to Mrs Johnson and School Council for letting our school enter the competition and to Mrs Hawkins and Mrs Trevor for making sure I went!

For information, the Lord Mayor ensured that all images were approved for use in relation to safeguarding isssues.