The Worshipful The Mayor of Boston, Councillor Barrie Pierpoint, has thanked the hundreds of individuals, community groups, charitable organisations and businesses who helped make his civic year a truly rewarding experience as it draws to a close.
Cllr Pierpoint’s term of office will conclude on Monday 18 May at the Annual General Meeting of Boston Borough Council.
At the beginning of his civic year, Cllr Pierpoint pledged to be a “Mayor of the people”, setting out to be visible, accessible and actively engaged across the Borough. Over the past 12 months, he has fulfilled that commitment by attending nearly 200 engagements, including event openings, school visits and community activities.
He said: “I made a commitment to be available to all communities and cultures within the Borough – whether groups, societies, organisations, businesses, schools or care settings – alongside carrying out the civic duties entrusted to me. I am proud to say I have achieved this with dedication and great pride.
“I am incredibly proud of the number of engagements undertaken during my year and particularly touched by those who invited both the Mayor and Mayoress back for a second or third visit. That, in itself, is a testament to the value of these connections.
“It has been a genuine privilege and honour to serve as Mayor. The role has been informative and educational, opening my eyes to the strength, diversity and community spirit across the Borough. The support people show one another, and the wide range of groups and initiatives, truly make Boston a wonderful place to live, work and enjoy.
“I have learnt more about the Borough in the past 12 months than in the previous 18 years I have lived here. It is truly an amazing Borough. Every day has been different, and the entire experience has been both rewarding and enjoyable.”
Cllr Pierpoint also paid tribute to the support provided by his Mayoral team, including Mayoress Pamela Love.
He said: “Pam has worked tirelessly, going above and beyond throughout the year. Her passion, warmth and willingness to get involved in any situation have been invaluable. I am incredibly fortunate to have had such a dedicated and down-to-earth Mayoress. Pam, thank you most sincerely – you have been truly outstanding.”
He also thanked Deputy Mayor Cllr Patsie Marson, describing her as a “real gem”, along with Deputy Mayoress Donna Goss for both their continued support and commitment.
During his civic year, Cllr Pierpoint took a different approach to fundraising by inviting nominations for charities, community projects and good causes. From almost 40 nominations received, five were selected:
- Boston Foodbank – Providing essential food support and free lunches for children during school holidays.
- Boston Men’s Shed – A welcoming space for men to connect, share skills, and support one another.
- Centrepoint Outreach – Supporting vulnerable and homeless individuals across Boston.
- Headway Lincolnshire – Offering specialist counselling and support for those affected by brain injuries.
- Support Group for Adults with Autism – Creating community and resources for autistic adults.
Despite the challenge of supporting multiple causes and setting an ambitious fundraising target of £10,000, the Mayor is pleased that this has been exceeded, with the final total to be confirmed in the coming days.
Cllr Pierpoint extends his gratitude to the 13 volunteers who gave their time and effort to supported the Mayor’s fundraising committee: Cllr Suzanne Welberry, Cllr Helen Staples, Cllr Mike Gilbert, Cllr David Scoot, Cllr Neil Drayton, Cllr Lina Savickiene, Cllr Patsie Marson, Pam Love, Tracey Scoot, Jade Welberry, Jennifer Oglesbee, Dr Umaira Batool and Dr Ahmad Batool.
He said: “These dedicated and passionate individuals have been instrumental in the success of our fundraising efforts. I thank them sincerely for their time, commitment and hard work.
“They have done me proud, our chosen charities proud, and most importantly, the people of Boston proud.”
The charities and good causes will be presented with their funds from the Mayor later this month.
