The annual civic service has finally taken place with a parade of civic leaders led by Standard Bearers from the main armed forces charities writes DES PUGH.

The event was due to be held at the earlier date of September 5 but was cancelled following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

The civic parade was led by Standards for the Royal Engineers Association, The Royal Naval Association and the Royal British Legion. The Mayor, Councillor Alice Fletcher and Consort Peter Fletcher were flanked by macebearers Caroline Bright and John Moylett as they led other town councillors, Town Clerk Caitlin Williams, Rev Jonathan Greaves (Mayor’s Chaplain who led the service) and who was supported by the Rev Ian Roberts (Wyesham Christian Fellowship) to a service in the Baptist chapel where the mayor placed her badge of office on the front table as a sign of submission to God’s authority over civic and spiritual life.

This was only the third annual town council civic service to be held at Monmouth’s baptist chapel, the first being just over a century ago.

The hymns were ‘How Great thou art’, ‘I, the Lord of Sea and Sky’ and ‘Guide me, O, Thou Great Redeemer’ and concluded with the National Anthems.

Councillor Fletcher thanked all councillors and officers for attending and for the support they have given her since she became Mayor in May.

“I would also like to thank my family with a special thanks to my children for pushing me forward and making me proud with how well they have adapted and coped over these past months” she added.

She confirmed her three chosen charities she will fundraise for throughout her tenure are Building Bridges, Monmouth Vision Impaired Club and SSAFA Gwent.

Building Bridges is a group based in Bridges Community Centre with the aim to support and encourage people aged between 14 and 25 with additional needs to engage with their community, build confidence and develop social skills. It holds a special significance for Cllr Fletcher as she and some of her children have autism and Building Bridges is a project that has supported them “and provided a safe space for my children.

“It is an invaluable project that I want to ensure remains supporting the local people and I hope the fundraising I do as Mayor goes some way to doing that” she said.

Another of her chosen charities is the Monmouth Vision Impaired Club. She is keen to support a group that helps people of all ages with a disability. “This is a club that supports anyone who is deemed to have their vision impaired by providing a social space to meet and interact with others who have a visual impairment, to be made aware of aids that could support club members, and financial support for those who may need to purchase these aids,” she said knowing that their support is essential to a number of residents in Monmouth.

“Finally, I recognise that as a town, Monmouth is a great supporter of the forces with the Regimental Headquarters for the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers at the Castle and the strong links with the past crews of HMS Monmouth.

“It is for this reason that my third charity is one that provides support to all personnel of the forces and their families. Their work includes emotional and physical support and care but not just those things that we automatically think about when it comes to the work of the forces. They also include support for addiction abuse, homelessness and disability.”