Vice President Des Moore greets Michele Knight-McQuillan, with club members Norman Irwin (again!) (L) and Cecil Leitch (R)

Coleraine Probus discovers that it isn't an easy job being the Mayor of our new borough

The Vice President, Des Moore introduced the speaker, Michele Knight-McQuillan, the topic of her talk being “The First Causeway Coast and Glens Mayor.”

Michele gave a very personal account of her time as the first Mayor of the new Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council which combined the legacy councils of Coleraine, Limavady, Ballymoney and Moyle. She had worked for a MLA before being co-opted into Coleraine Borough Council in 2013.

Michele was elected to the new council in her own right with 1025 first preference votes and to her mother’s surprise was elected to the post of Mayor when on the 1st. April 2015 the legacy councils formed the new Causeway Coast and Glens Council. This new post carried the weight of responsibility but Michele always aimed to be neutral and non political as she endeavoured to serve the community as a Mayor, willing to listen to all shades of opinion represented in the four diverse council areas.

An extensive workload would mean that thousands of miles would be travelled. She would communicate daily with hundreds people, take part in radio discussions and entertain delegates from foreign countries. Twinning trips to France and an investigative journey to the Netherlands would form part of her duties. It was not long before Michele excelled in communicating with Royals and celebrities but her main aim was to bring people together. For Michele it was a honour and privilege to be the first Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

A question and answer session followed the talk. A vote of thanks, proposed by Cecil Leitch, was passed to Michele by the Vice President. The members showed their appreciation of an intriguing talk.

** Norman wanted his photo taken with Michele, how could we say no! **