Mayor is sworn in at church service (From Free Press Series)

Mayor is sworn in at church service

A PACKED church witnessed the inauguration service for new Caldicot Mayor Cllr Ron Stewart last weekend.

A procession, led by the Severn Tunnel Band, took the Mayor and his guests to the civic service, which was conducted by the Rev Canon Derek Jones at St Mary's Church.

Dignitaries from all over Monmouthshire joined family and friends to offer their support to the new Mayor.

Mr Jones said: "I think this is a very important day in the life of the community of Caldicot."

The first lesson of the service was read in Welsh by Cllr Stewart's son Jim while the second lesson was read by town council clerk Gayle McIntyre.

Playing the organ was Dorothy Jones, who has been the organist at St Mary's for an astonishing 70 years.

The service ended with a blast of the bagpipes by another of Cllr Stewart's sons Charles as he led the mayor out of the church.

Mrs Samantha Stewart, the mayor's wife and Consort, said: "The day went wonderfully. It was great to have our five sons and other family around and to have so many representatives from around Monmouthshire."

Cllr Stewart added: "It was a lovely day and it was great to see so many smiling faces."