A FREEMASONS’ proverb about treating people equally has been in the mind of the Mayor of Kirklees over the last 12 months, as he enters his final weeks of service.

Clr David Ridgway set aside political differences and has refrained from mischief while the chain of office remained in his possession.

The Colne Valley Liberal Democrat agreed to become mayor last June at just 10 days’ notice – the designate mayor, Christine Iredale, lost her seat and the Lib Dems needed a replacement.

Clr Ridgway admits the role he was hesitant about taking has been an eye-opener.

“My views of mayoralty are tempered,” he said.

“I recognise that there is a cost attached to the mayoralty and that cost should be an acceptable cost in the eyes of the public who are enduring to cope with the economic situation today.”

His first job was to remove the mayoral drinks’ cabinet to save money.

He also wanted to make sure engagements provided value for money, adding: “I took on the role in the knowledge that my life for one year would be donated to the people of Kirklees.

“One thing has changed is that I fully recognise that the mayoralty is expected to be there by the people of Kirklees. On the basis of that I am happy to support its continuance.”

Just before Clr Ridgway became mayor a tragedy hit Huddersfield – the town lost three of its sons in Afghanistan.

“I selected the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust as my charity because people were so moved by the courage and the support of the families of the three soldiers who died in Afghanistan. It was the appropriate thing to do.”

Around £50,000 has been raised for the trust – half of what it donates to troops’ families every year.

Donations at the homecoming parade topped £2,000 while Huddersfield Town fans donated £2,500 to a bucket collection last November.

Clr Ridgway also shone the spotlight on Emily Reaves, a soprano of Honley Ladies Choir, whose charitable efforts raised in the region of £15,000.

“The abiding memory I’ve had is of the extraordinary generosity displayed towards the families of the guys serving in the regiment.

“I’ve enjoyed my year as mayor, I’ve had a fascinating insight and I hope I’ve been able to bring to people the human side of local government.”

Setting politics aside has, perhaps, been a challenge. The mayor presides over council meetings yet remains neutral – not always easy at a political showcase of full council meetings.

Clr Ridgway shared an anecdote about a pact he’d made with Kirklees Chief Executive, Adrian Lythgo, who sits next to him at full council meetings, who agreed to tap the mayor on the ankle if he stepped over the line. Clr Ridgway escaped an ankle rap.

His year in office has changed the councillor’s view of the town also: “This time last year I was aware but indifferent to the University of Huddersfield, but I’ve had the pleasure of appreciating the hard work, the ambition and the forward-thinking of the university.”

He also picked out the Textile Centre of Excellence as one of the leading industries the mayoralty allowed him to discover.

He admits his term of office has allowed him to see potential for the authority to further integrate itself with the business community and is planning to share his ideas and be a willing volunteer to lead the way.

This week the Mayor’s civic reception took place, with hundreds of community-minded people invited. There he said his top five events of the year were the Jamaica’s 50th independence celebrations at Greenhead Park, the homecoming parade, Remembrance Sunday, Holocaust Day events and his civic service.

He also picked out meeting his “boyhood hero” Denis Law and cyclist Ed Clancy as highlights.

He’s met school children, scouts and community groups and today presides over his final citizenship ceremony.

Next month he’ll pass the mayoral chain onto his deputy, Clr Martyn Bolt (pictured inset), who recently added £2,500 from a charity bike ride he organised for the mayor’s charity.

Clr Bolt, like the mayor, was cast as deputy at short notice when his Conservative colleague, Adrian Murphy, the designate deputy mayor a year ago, lost his seat.

At the civic reception Clr Bolt remarked that to “lose two mayors was careless” but that he had enjoyed being “thrown in at the deep end” with Clr Ridgway.

Clr Bolt’s charity of the year is the One Community Foundation, a charity created to generate financial support for Kirklees-based community activities.

“Next year is the 40th anniversary of the creation of Kirklees Council. I chose One Community because that’s something for us to strive towards.”

Labour’s Clr Ken Smith becomes deputy mayor.