There
was little by way of formal business at Wednesday’s Council meeting so there is
time to review the speeches; they weren’t all bad.
Councillor David Leaf began his by saying he would not vote for a
Labour Mayor Daniel Francis
because he enjoyed arguing with him too much. The only decent joke was that
Bexley as “top recycler” should recycle its Mayors too, hence him proposing
Councillor Nick O’Hare for a second term. (He was Mayor in 2008/2009.)
After being seconded by Councillor June Slaughter who joked about the
length of Leaf speeches and Councillor O’Hare once being a Lib Dem, he was duly elected.
There was then a 24 minute interval to allow an army of seamstresses to get busy
with their scissors and pins to reduce the Mayoral robes to Nick shape. (†)
The new Mayor gave a thank you speech to the assembled throng and promised that
his speeches would not come Leaf sized but instead be “short and sweet”.
He concluded in five minutes and Councillor Peter Craske then paid tribute to
outgoing Mayor James Hunt and his Mayoress. Much of it was concerned with the impact of Covid on the first year of his reign
and how James’s wife saved lives as a nurse.
There were no jokes and no anti-Labour jibes and the reason
for that soon became clear.
Labour Leader Borella had agreed to second Councillor Craske’s tribute.
Stefano’s speech was packed with good jokes at the Mayor’s expense, James Hunt being a renowned joker.
The idea of Chef Borella teaming up with James Hunt to do a good food guide for Bexley was floated.
The
new Mayor then presented medals to the “retiring Mayor and Mayoress”. Well there
is a word you will not hear associated with James in any other context.
James Hunt said his thank you speech would be quick because he had promised his
wife he would take her to see Top Gun, Maverick later the same evening but in the
event she was to be disappointed.
Good sport that he is, James enlarged on Stefano Borella’s chip shop joke and
profusely thanked his Mayoral team with more jokes about his chauffeur’s driving
skills; apparently he never stops bragging about being a Gold Standard Advanced
Driver, and his wife is “amazing” and “his rock”. (James’s wife not the driver’s
before anyone gets the wrong idea!)
“Now I am done” James said. Thank you and Good Night.”
There will be a short item on “proper business” tomorrow. You will not be
surprised that joviality rapidly gave way to insults.
† This is not true. Fittings took place earlier.