Jacob Williams https://jacobwilliams.com

I enjoy a funny story as much as the next person, especially if it’s unintentionally humorous. Last Thursday’s edition of the Milford Mercury covered a gem which was played out during a meeting of Milford Haven Town Council.

The Mercury also published the story online, and I can highly recommend my visitors to read it.

The story, titled: ‘Milford Haven mayor criticised for wearing chains to pub,’ covers a barrage of disapproving comments aimed at the mayor, Cllr. Guy Woodham, over his civic responsibilities in the wake of a number of highly publicised engagements he has taken part in since his term of office began in May.

Councillors ganged up on the mayor, who also serves as a county councillor for the town, and asked if he had been formally invited to all of his recent appearances, or if he had attended them wearing the chain of his own accord.

In answer, Cllr. Woodham said they weren’t all by invitation, but reminded members that it was his pledge as mayor to be visible, accessible and to engage with the public. He referred to his inaugural speech in which he said he would “wear the mayoral chain to as many different places and locations as possible within the town.”

Questions and opinions came thick and fast from councillors Eric Harries, Tony Eden and John Cole, who were speaking from experience – as they’ve all served as the town’s first citizen on numerous occasions.

One of the inappropriate engagements they felt the new mayor had indulged in was a visit to the Haven Hotel and to Circles nightclub, wearing his mayoral chain of office. Cllr. Eden strongly disapproved, and highlighted the fact that the premises had previously had its license revoked, and wondered if this was the sort of place the tow’s mayor should be seen in.

“What if someone had grabbed the chain?”
— Cllr. John Roberts

I can only imagine the reporter’s delight when this episode unfolded at the council meeting. Not happy with criticising the mayor and denigrating his efforts to mingle with the townsfolk, the gang went further.

Cllr. Harries suggested that mayors in the past had attended official engagements from invitations passed to them by the town clerk, and suggested Cllr. Woodham should cease his current tendency and abide by custom.

Cllr. Cole said there were some places in the town he would be reluctant to attend on his own, and Cllr. Roberts wondered out loud, as the mayor had worn the valuable chain of office to unofficial events without an invitation, what the position would be with the insurers “if someone had grabbed the chain?”

“I think the point here is that the older members of the town council have spent too long – and have become too comfortable – hidden within the town hall. They do things the way they want to, not the way the town wants to.”
— danieljamesblythAs a person whose press appearances have been described as ‘relentless self-promotion,’ I’m probably not unbiased when it comes to offering comment on political publicity. Some councillors like to hide away, and some like to be seen as an active member of their community.

Surely if the mayor wishes to offer his support to events, businesses and functions within his town by merely turning up wearing the chain of office, providing they are above board, where is the damage? And, if the residents of the town really aren’t happy for their mayor to be seen as ‘one of the people,’ and the views of the ‘chain gang’ really do reflect public opinion; then they are perfectly entitled to let him know themselves.

And it is precisely because of this that I believe Cllr. Woodham will have the last laugh. I’m glad to say the public has been vocal on this topic, and seem to be in strong support of the new mayor and his approach.

There are currently 33 comments posted by readers of the story on the Mercury’s website, my favourite so far is a comprehensive evaluation of the situation by ‘danieljamesblyth,’ which I’ve partly quoted above.

In the unfortunate and highly unlikely event that the mayoral chain does get pinched during one of Cllr. Woodham’s engagements (official or unofficial) I’d be very willing to publicise an appeal for its return on the pages of this website.

In any case, Cllr. Eden is an ex-copper, so I don’t think the mayor would have to toil for too long over which of his councillors he should appoint to chair the chain recovery committee.

❏I’m reliably informed that the Mercury will be running a follow-up piece to this story in this week’s newspaper. I’ve also got wind that Cllr. Woodham has his own column in the Mercury. I’m green (and purple) with envy.