I just thought I ought to tell you that it is my intention to retire at the end of this summer term. Having been a Parish Councillor for over 22 years, in fact from the Council’s inception, I now feel it is time for me to step back.

During my time as a councillor we have written 22 annual reports which have been distributed each April. We have organised “The Way We Used To Be” exhibitions at the Memorial Hall, Kirk Ella, the Church Hall, South Ella and at the Kirk Ella School, all supported by our M.P. David Davis. We have had Yorkshire Day and charity money raising coffee mornings at our two local pubs and of course the production of our Heritage Trail book which my husband, Stan, helped me to produce and have printed following a successful grant application from “Awards for All”. He then erected more than 20 blue plaques on historic buildings round this trail. All this to enhance the historic value of our two most interesting villages.

There have been several other successful grant applications with which we have been able to buy street furniture, namely seats and information boards. Our latest is being supervised by the then Vice Chairman, now Chairman Councillor Shaun Horton, an historic information board for the Sycamores the old South Ella School site.

Our last major function was of course the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee barbecue, organised by Councillors Stan Raymond and John Bailey in conjunction with the management of the Hull Golf Club when our beacon was lit twice, on both the Thursday and Saturday evenings.

Kirk Ella and West Ella Parish Council is a most successful one not least because of the extreme hard work of our Clerk, Mandy Pickering. Thank you all for your support and friendship, the friendship which I hope will continue during my retirement.

Councillor Margaret Raymond

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