Cllr Adam Lowe, who was elected as Oakham Mayor in May, has spoken to Oakham Nub News about his first month in office.

Cllr Lowe said:

It was a pleasant surprise to be invited to be the Mayor of Oakham, and I take on the responsibility with great pride and with purpose. The primary responsibility is to Chair the Council Meetings and ensure we follow due process. I am fortunate that we have capable and professional staff in the Clerk to the Town Council, Mr Christopher Evans and the Deputy Clerk to the Council Kathy Geraghty.

As the incoming Mayor, I follow Cllr Sally-Anne Wadsworth, our most successful and popular Mayoress - unlike so many before her, she is remaining on the Council and continues to drive and manage our events in Cutts close, an excellent Councillor and good friend not just to me and my wife Julie but to the people of Oakham who she represents in all she does. Sally-Anne was supported by Cllr Chris Nix and I am pleased that Chris will continue to support me and my expectation is for him to pick up the reins in 2025.

Time and availability to do the role; some of the Town Councillors, like me, work full time, so when I was asked to attend Catmose Primary May King and Queen school dance bonanza it meant taking a day off work. I cannot think of better use of my annual leave. Catmose Primary, all the staff and all the talented children yet again presented a fantastic dance display as they celebrated the crowning of their May 2024, King and Queen. 

There are a lot evening events, these are easier to manage, I would advise anyone considering becoming a Town Councillor to be aware that we commit to serving your community in our own time, it was at one such event, the Oakham Canal Green Corridor audio walk launch, that I and some of my fellow Town Councillors attended where we were signposted to the oakhamcanal.org website where you can access the fantastic audio walks and maps, what a brilliant initiative and one which adds another interesting fact facet to our already fascinating Town. 

As my first month concluded we held a Twinning Event to help re-launch our friendship with Barmstedt, with a small contingent from Germany consisting of their Mayor, Frau Heike Döpke, the Chair of the German Twinning, Frau Susanne Schmidt and her husband, Herr Ortwin Schmidt, a retired Policeman from Hamburg and now a Town and County Councillor. The event at Oakham Castle was a great success with guests from all over Rutland and beyond along with the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Sarah Furness and High Sheriff of Rutland Mr Richard Cole.

Our German guests enjoyed visits to Rockingham Castle, Rutland Water and, thanks to Mr Nick Hamilton, they had an extra special welcome when Nick generously extended a very warm welcome and complimentary tour of Barnsdale Gardens. The Oakham and District Committee also entertained our guests at the George Inn in Oakham Market Place, where the value and quality of the food was just incredible and goes to show that Oakham is a great place to visit, and having visited Germany on a number occasions they equal Oakham in standards, hospitality and friendship, which is why the Twinning initiative is still very much a going concern and there will be more to follow on that in the coming weeks and months.

Moving through the other complexities of being a Councillor, so not just the Chairman, it is a team effort. Each Councillor is working for you and together we serve our Town. So looking ahead we have a couple of projects, Cllr Wadsworth is heading up a team exploring Town Centre development ideas whilst Cllr Ainsley is heading up another project to develop Town Council assets with the community at the centre of that outcome at Royces Recreation green space. One of my ongoing objectives will be to promote and support the Royal British Legion in Rutland and the Oakham Branch Committee and the Veterans Breakfast Club started by Mark and Tracey Taylor, any money I raise this year will be with these organisations in mind.

To that end, Julie and I with Mike Wood and Kathy Geraghty were at the Rutland County Show promoting The Royal British Legion whilst raising funds. Becoming a member is the easiest way to support the RBL and the Oakham RBL Branch Committee which is the only Branch in Rutland has around 60 members. We are also looking for willing members who would be interested in taking on a more active role on the committee, if this of interest to you drop me an email, [email protected]. 

Thank you to the Town Councillors for all their work in May as we roll into June and the D-Day 80 commemoration, a significant event in history, recognised in Oakham, Uppingham, across the County and nationally let us all support local and national events alike. 

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