by Sam Hawcroft and John Prince
With robes, chains, a three-cornered hat, the town’s golden mace and a crowd of excited children waiting outside for pennies to be thrown, Hedon’s new mayor has taken up one of the most historic civic roles in the region.
On Thursday, May 21, Cllr Suzie Wright was installed as the 679th mayor of Hedon in the town hall chamber, surrounded by the full pageantry of a council whose traditions reach back centuries.
In many towns, a mayoral handover revolves around purely the chains of office. In Hedon, it is something far older and more theatrical.
In Hedon Town Hall’s historic council chamber, the incoming mayor was formally invested in the fur-trimmed robes of office, while the town clerk wore the traditional gown and wig.
The Sergeant at Mace, John Dawson, then placed the chains of office on the mayor, her consort, Emily Wilkin, deputy mayor Cllr Sam Banks and deputy consort Sam Morrod.
For Suzie, a primary school teacher, the moment was still sinking in afterwards.
She said: “It really is a bit surreal, if I’m honest, but it’s an absolute honour to be nominated and voted in for this role. I’m very pleased.”
Her charity for the year will be HEY Kids Type 1 Family Support Group – a cause with a strong personal connection.
Suzie said: “It’s really close to my heart because my youngest has got Type 1 diabetes.
“That group has been fabulous in supporting us as a family since his diagnosis 12 years ago, so we’ll be holding lots of events and hopefully raising money for them.”
Alongside fundraising, Suzie said one of her priorities would be strengthening links with children and young people.
She added: “The young people are our council of tomorrow.
“What I hope they’ll learn from me is that, if I can be the mayor of Hedon, then so can they.
“That’s really important, because without the people of tomorrow, the history will be gone. I’m here to help anyone, and I’ll do my best to represent them all.”
Suzie said she would also be keen to work with other towns across Holderness, saying the area’s communities had much to gain from closer links.
She said: “We’re all part of Holderness. We’re all part of a wider community, and our towns should work together.
“I’m more than willing to meet with any of the towns in the area and try to do things together.”
After the formality of the chamber came one of Hedon’s more unusual civic customs – the annual penny throwing outside the town hall.
Children gathered outside as the new mayor, civic leaders and guests threw coins into the waiting crowd, with Mr Dawson whipping up the excitement before the first pennies flew.
The tradition is a playful reminder of Hedon’s days as a “rotten borough”, when people were offered money to support a particular mayoral candidate.
Today, it is a family event and one of the most distinctive moments in the town’s civic calendar.
Suzie said: “It’s a lovely tradition which is done every year, and it is a bit of a mockery of the days when Hedon was a rotten borough.
“It’s nice to have the children here and to see it. It brings the community together, with lots of happy, smiling faces. It’s why you do it, really.”
The evening also marked the end of Cllr Phil Hinch’s year as Hedon’s 678th mayor.
Phil was praised for raising more than £6,000 for Macmillan during his year in office, and for throwing himself into the role with enthusiasm – from Christmas lights and Yorkshire Day events to parades, dog shows and even having his leg waxed for charity.
Cllr John Dennis, a former three-time mayor of Hedon, paid tribute to Phil’s service on behalf of the town council.
He said Phil’s long career in the police had prepared him well for the range of people, places and situations that come with the mayoralty.
Cllr Dennis said: “He has thrown himself into whatever has come his way enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
“He has never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in during his full year of office.”
Mr Dawson said Cllr Hinch had been “a credit to the town”.
He said: “He did an excellent job and raised more than £6,000 for charity, which is absolutely amazing. He ought to be very proud of himself, because he did the town proud.”
Mr Dawson said Suzie now had “a tall order” in following him, but had already shown she was ready for the role.
He said: “This evening we have seen the way she has mingled with people. She is very popular and she is already into the role. It is a very esteemed role, and I am sure she will do a magnificent job.”
Phil also wished Suzie well, saying she would have a busy but memorable year ahead.
He said: “Congratulations to Suzie on becoming the 679th mayor of Hedon.
“It is not only an honour for Suzie, but an honour for the town to have Suzie. It is a fantastic role. There are lots of events you will go to and lots of people you will meet that you won’t forget.
“You can make a difference in so many lives that you don’t realise. I know Suzie from personal experience, and she supported me as deputy mayor this year. I know she will do the role very well.
“My advice is just keep smiling, no matter what happens. If something goes wrong, just smile, and it will be fine.”
Phil said Hedon’s long history made the role even more special. He added: “People don’t realise the significance of Hedon as a major port in its time. It was a bigger port than Hull before Hull was even formed, and the history that goes hand in hand with Hedon is amazing.”
Hedon was founded around 1130 by William le Gros, Earl of Aumale, as a planned Norman town and port.
It later became one of the most important towns in the region, with King Stephen granting it a Royal Mint and King Edward III granting a Charter of Incorporation in 1348, making Hedon the first town in Yorkshire to elect its own mayor.
The town is also famous for possessing what is regarded as the oldest civic mace in England.
The silver-gilt mace is traditionally linked to the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and is said to have been presented to the town by King Henry V.
Suzie’s mayoral year will include the traditional civic service at St Augustine’s Church on Sunday, October 4.