MEET the Mayoral record-breaker.

Clr Eric Firth has raised the most charity cash ever by a Kirklees Mayor during his year in office – a staggering £131,000 for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Clr Firth met delighted representatives from the Brackenhall-based hospice yesterday, to present the cheque for funds raised throughout his year in office.

His fundraising antics have not only smashed previous records but are just £1,000 short of the combined efforts of his three predecessors.

The Dewsbury East Labour councillor said: “The support I have had has been phenomenal and as the list is endless. It is impossible to thank everyone individually.

“I must give a big thank you to my fundraising committees who worked tirelessly for 12 months on my behalf.

“Without their support and skills and ideas I wouldn’t have achieved half so much.”

His charity efforts have taken him to dizzy heights when he abseiled down a building at Huddersfield University to raise funds.

He added: “Ninety people joined us that day and we all had a whale of a time and raised around £20,000 doing it. It really was fun and I would do it again.”

Individual donations to the fund included Dewsbury journalist Margaret Watson, who gave the £16,000 proceeds of her recipe book, Dewsbury in Food and Photos, to the mayor’s charity.

The cash will be spent towards providing specialist services for children from Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Kirklees Mayors’ fundraising appeals

Clr Andrew Palfreeman 2010/11

(Cons, Birstall and Birkenshaw)

£44,000 for Combat Stress

Clr Julie Stewart-Turner 2009/10

(Green, Newsome)

£36,000 split between the Methodist Mission Cafe and Welcome Centre on Lord Street and Dewsbury crisis charities CARE Dewsbury and Day Break.

Clr Jean Calvert 2007/08

(Labour, Ashbrow)

£52,000 for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Calderdale Council joins legal action fight into GCSE English grading fiasco: Click here to read.