Jan Whitbourn has been elected the new chair of South Holland District Council.
She’ll replace Coun Andrew Woolf who announced he’s raised over £21,000 for Spalding Mencap and Blood Cancer UK in his two-year term in the position.
It was after South Holland Independent Mark Le Sage had also been nominated for the role.
Coun Woolf said: “It’s been an absolute honour to be the chair.
“It’s two years I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and will remember for the rest of my life.
“I’ve met so many, in this district and neighbouring authorities and I’ve learnt a lot about them.
“I wanted the council to work as a whole and, though we do have different views politically, we put politics aside, people first, for the electorate.
“I also wanted to raise as much money as possible for my chosen charities.
“We’ve put on a whole host of events and I’m proud to announce, which has got a little bit more to come in, is £21,064.95.
“I’m really proud. Hopefully I can leave some more legacies for the future chair. It would like to see the Santa run continue in one way or another.”
Coun Glynis Scalese thanked Coun Woolf on behalf of Spalding Mencap, while Coun Chris Brewis said he’d gone ‘above and beyond the call of duty’.
Leader Nick Worth said: “In the 25 years I’ve been around you’ve done an excellent job and been a real ambassador for the council. You’ve set the bar very high.”
Coun Whitbourn said she’d raise funds for three charities – Spalding Lions, Spalding Round Table and Spalding United Youth Football Club.
“It’s a great honour to be elected as chair,” she said. “I was working for the authority 15 years ago and never did I imagine that one day I would be sat in this chamber, let alone in this chair.
“I love Spalding and South Holland and since losing my husband Robin, I’ve made it my mission to give everything I can to make them better place to live and visit.
“Over the next two years I’m determined to do everything I can to raise the profile of Spalding and the district through this role.”
