WALTON-LE-DALE MOCK CORPORATION. –
Saturday night last the members of the above Corporation met at the “Moot Hall” for the purpose of holding the annual Mayor’s banquet. A first-class dinner was placed upon the table by the host and hostess, to which full justice was done by those present. On the removal of the cloth the chair was occupied by the Mayor (Alderman Thos. Rigbye), who was supported by Aldemen R. Woodhouse, J. B. Crozier, P. Gregson. R. Cookson, Gardner, Rutter, Smith, Coates, and Halstead; Councillors Knowles, Sumner, Brennan, Gornall, Myerscough, Rostron, Barrow, Robinson, Heaton, J. Cookson, Walton, and T. Birkenhead; John Robinson, chancellor; Alfred Barnes, town clerk; and R. Hartley, jester.-The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given and duly honoured.-Alderman Woodhouse then proposed the health of Alderman Rigbye, the retiring Mayor, and spoke very highly of the manner in which he had carried out his mayoral duties during his year of office. The toast was drunk with musical honours.-Alderman Rigbye thanked them all for their kindness and the support he had received from the members generally during the past year, and he hoped they would all rally round his successor. The election of the new Mayor was then proceeded with, and Alderman J. B. Crozier (the Jubilee Mayor) was again unanimously elected to the ancient office. Alderman Rigbye then vacated his seat, and the now Mayor having been invested with his robe of office and conducted to the post of honour was duly installed as chairman for the remainder of the evening.” The health of the new Mayor” was then proposed and enthusiastically received with musical honours. His Worship, in responding, said he thanked them heartily for their kindness in electing him Mayor, and also for the manner in which they had drunk his health; but being of a retiring and modest disposition he would not say much now, but could, promise them them he would do all he could. He also wished to remind them that Walton now during his term of office to make make everything a success, possessed a teetotal Mayor, a sure sign that they were moving with the times, and wound up his remarks on teetotalism in a very practical manner. His Worship then called on the Town Clerk to make his annual statement, which showed ved a balance on the right side of sevenpence. The Town Clerk remarked that they were the only Corporation he knew that was out of debt. He also casually remarked that the office of “admiral” to the Corporation had been abolished, as the only boat they over owned had been wrecked, so that he thought they might with justice put that to the “sinking fund.”-Owing to the large amount of money in hand there was no big rush to oust the treasurer from his, post. Toasts and songs, interspersed with speeches, followed in quick succession, Mr. Councillor Gornall presiding at the piano with his well known ability. The artistic rendering of “Maggie by my side,” with variations, brought down the house. The speech of the evening was undoubtedly that made by a well-known and worthy alderman, who is rapidly coming to the front as an orator, and he is one of the few individuals (outside the ranks of prominent politicians) who can make a speech without being at all troubled with a subject. Until the name of the Chancellor was mentioned, it he was asking them to drink that gentleman’s health, a proposition which was at once acceded to and the Chancellor responded in an appropriate speech ate speech. During the evening the whole of the members joined in singing the “Jubilee Anthem.” “The health of the Host and Hostess” having been drunk and responded to, a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the whole company joining in the National Anthem.-
Cor.
~
WALTON-LE-DALE AND BAMBER BRIDGE.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19, 1892
Publication: Preston Chronicle
Gale Primary Sources, British Library Newspapers:
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/Y3207510921/BNCN?u=lancs&sid=bookmark-BNCN&pg=5&xid=90efa4fc
~