Putting his own life on hold for a year and raising £28,000 for local charities as been an honour for the outgoing mayor of Epsom and Ewell.

Councillor Chris Frost will hand over the chains tonight to deputy mayor George Crawford as his 12 months in the top job comes to an end.

He said: “It has been a wonderful experience. We have raised so much money for good causes and it’s been a real honour to do it.”

Alongside his chosen mayor’s charities – Epsom Riding for the Disabled and Age Concern Epsom and Ewell – he has established the Epsom and Ewell Community Fund, which has already raised £28,000 for good causes.

As well as the fund, Cllr Frost says he hopes his mayoral legacy will lie in a recently-established multi-faith forum, which will bring together people of different religions at social and educational events.

Cllr Frost said while it has been rewarding, the role has not been easy.

He said: “You have to put the rest of your personal life on hold for a year, but it is such an honour that I [was] happy to do it.”

He is looking forward to relaxing with a book in his garden, a luxury he has been too busy to enjoy for two years, as well as playing badminton with his wife, and seeing their three grandchildren.

They will not have too much time to themselves as a couple, though, after his wife, Cllr Liz Frost, was chosen as the new deputy mayor, meaning that she herself will become mayor in a year’s time.

Cllr Frost says that highlights of his mayoral year include a trip to Runnymede for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, and a visit to Epsom’s twin town, Chantilly in northern France.

His overriding impression, though, has been admiration for Epsom and Ewell’s community spirit and the charitable work of its residents.

He said: “When you become mayor you realise just how many people there are doing things for others less fortunate.”

He added: “One or two of the other mayors have mentioned that we’ve got a good strong community spirit in Epsom and Ewell.”