by Sam Hawcroft
New Withernsea mayor Kristina Richardson has chaired her first annual parish meeting, as community groups from across the town gave updates on their work over the past year.
The meeting, held at the Meridian Centre on Wednesday, May 27, heard from a wide range of organisations, with Cllr Richardson responding with gratitude after each report.
She opened the meeting by highlighting Withernsea Town Council’s annual report, including more than £644,000 secured through the Hull and East Riding Devolution Fund for the seafront regeneration scheme, which has delivered improvements including beach huts, kiosks and work at the fishing compound.
Cllr Richardson also paid tribute to the town’s community spirit, particularly following the tragedy on January 2, and said Withernsea had shown “exceptional resilience and support” through its emergency services, volunteers and residents.
The meeting also included the presentation of the Town Awards. As reported on Page 6, the individual award went to Patrick Pearson, musical director of Withernsea Ladies’ Choir.
The group award went to the Friends of Withernsea Lighthouse, in recognition of more than two decades of work supporting one of the town’s best-known landmarks.
The group was praised for its fundraising, events, volunteer work and improvements to the lighthouse gardens, including the creation of a celebration garden and the restoration of a Second World War propeller.
Sharon Carman, speaking for the Friends, said the group had “gone from strength to strength” over the past four years and thanked all its volunteers.
Reports were also given by HM Coastguard and Withernsea RNLI, both of which reflected on the emergency response in January and thanked the wider community for its support.
The RNLI said the station had trained at sea 62 times, carried out 33 shore-based training sessions and been called out 22 times, helping 10 people. It has also welcomed four additional crew members and two new launch authorities.
Other updates came from groups including Withernsea Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club, the Royal British Legion, Andy’s Man Club, Withernsea Ladies’ Choir, Blue Light Weekend, Withernsea Youth Action Group, The Lookout, Withernsea Tennis CIC, Withernsea and District Lions Club and Withernsea Carnival.
Cllr Richardson said the strength of the updates showed how much work was being done by volunteers and community organisations across the town.