SIR,

I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Mayor of Monmouth Councillor Gerry Bright for inviting myself, my children and visiting family to the Shire Hall to view the portrait of my late husband Jeffrey James Smith in his police uniform.

It was wonderful to see the photograph proudly displayed among some very eminent Monmouth citizens.

Jeffrey was the incumbent mayor at the time of his death in 2002 and I am very much hoping that the portrait of him as mayor will be restored and hung in the appropriate place to record and confirm his time in office.

At the time of my husband's death, my children were six years and nine months old respectively, so they were too young to remember their father's time as mayor.

To be invited to the Mayor's Parlour was a treat for them.

Gerry Bright could not have been more accommodating and kind to our party.

He took so much time and had so much empathy with us all.

He explained and showed us the renovations to the Shire Hall and described what was planned for the building in the future.

We all came away from the visit feeling like VIPs thanks to him, who I can only describe as an extremely kind and generous gentleman.

Ceris Mainwaring-Smith

(Monmouth)