A heartfelt goodbye was said to Elmbridge’s outgoing mayor as he passed the mayoral baton on during a bustling council meeting.

Councillor John Sheldon worked tirelessly during his year in office and attended more than 500 events with the help of his wife, Councillor Mary Sheldon.

He told Esher’s packed council chamber on Wednesday, May 16, that the whole enterprise had been a team effort.

He lovingly put the success of his mayoralty down to her energy, love of socialising and ability to remember names and faces.

Coun Sheldon summed up the job perfectly when he told to councillors how he described what mayors do to a young person at one event.

He said: “We meet a lot of people and ask them for money.”

Coun Sheldon said every single encounter had been memorable and that he had amply fulfilled his ambitions as an ambassador of Elmbridge.

Leader of the council Councillor John O’Reilly said it had been a spectacular year and told his friend Coun Sheldon he had done the borough proud.

Councillor Janet Turner, who became a councillor back in 1995, was then welcomed an Elmbridge’s new mayor, her tiny stature swamped by red robes.

In nominating her for the role, fellow Hinchley Wood councillor Frank Dabell said: “Anyone who works with Janet should be issued with a bike and roller skates. It’s simply the only way you can keep up with her.”

Coun Turner named Princess Alice Hospice, Esher, as her chosen charity for the mayoral year, and Councillor Mike Bennison was appointed deputy mayor.