CHARNWOODS' MAYOR ENJOYING LIVING IN BARROW
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Hayley Francesconi in conversation with Jack Moore
We were very pleased to hear that Our Mayor is a resident of Barrow after moving
here from Rothley. How long have you lived here and do you enjoy it?
I have lived here for exactly a year and I absolutely love it! There is a marvellous
community atmosphere and I have made plenty of friends. I am continually
impressed by the tidiness of the village and the well behaved, polite youngsters.
Are you enjoying your duties as Mayor?
Yes, it has been a marvellous experience. I love people and I enjoy a busy life! I
have great pleasure 'putting something back into the pot'.
What is the most unusual thing you have been asked to do as Mayor?
Not so much unusual as unusually touching, I recently officiated at the Holocaust
ceremony at Queen's park in Loughborough where I read out a statement of
commitment. It included a very moving ceremony of placing stones and I found
this a very powerful experience of remembrance.
What are the best and worst parts of the job?
The best parts include not knowing how events are going to turn out and one has to get used to expecting the unexpected!
Most times, this involves very pleasant surprises. My biggest thrill was in November when I greeted the Queen and Prince
Philip at Loughborough University.
The worst parts are perhaps the total commitment of being Mayor and giving your whole self (which often means your
personal life too). It is important to pace yourself.
What has been your main objective of the year?
I am very proud to have achieved the important position of being the Mayor of
Charnwood Borough Council, having come from a working class family background.
When you are not performing duties, do you have any hobbies to help you relax?
Very much so! I am a walker and a birdwatcher and usually combine the two.
I have found lots of ways of enjoying this in Barrow. I recently enjoyed a ten mile
walk from Barrow to Walton and Seagrave and back. It 's fun and keeps me fit.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to say thank you to my daughter, Caroline Orton, who has supported
me as Mayoress this year. She is well known in the netball world and local sports
and is a county player locally in her 29th consecutive season. My most memorable
moment as Mayor must be when she abseiled off an 100ft building at
Loughborough University to raise money for RNIB. She enjoyed it so much that she
went back and did it again, only this time facing FORWARDS!
My charities are LOROS and Macmillan Nurses and to date there has been almost
£5,000 donated to the mayor 's fund.
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