Sun stays out for Mayor’s civic service

DIGNITARIES paraded through the centre of Henley to take part in the Mayor’s civic service on Sunday.

Three standard bearers from the Henley and Peppard branch of the Royal British Legion led new Mayor Martin Akehurst, town councillors and invited guests from the town hall to St Mary’s Church in Hart Street.

The procession included Tony Stratton, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Lord Camoys, deputy lord lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Ann Midwinter, deputy chairwoman of South Oxfordshire District Council, Mayoress Glynnis Akehurst and the Rev Canon Martyn Griffiths, rector of St Mary’s.The standard bearers formed a guard of honour at the church door as the dignitaries made their way inside.

After the service, they paraded back to the town hall for a reception in the Mayor’s parlour.

Councillor Akehurst said: “It was a lovely day but it’s a shame more people didn’t come to the service as it is open to the public. It’s a wonderful tradition that visitors and locals love — we were being photographed left, right and centre as we walked down the street.

“We were also very lucky with the weather as it was dry for the first time in three or four years.”