BRIGG TOWN CLERK SIGNING OFF AFTER 22 YEARS

 

Jeanette Woollard at work in her office at the Angel Suite. PICTURE BY KEN HARRISON

Brigg Blog cannot let the retirement of Jeanette Woollard as Town Clerk pass by without comment.

She has given unstinting service and played a key role within our market town community.

Jeanette has been central to everything from Christmas lights switch-on ceremonies to administering grants to worthy local organisations; from organising our Remembrance Day parades to overseeing the popular best-kept gardens and allotments competitions.

Wise words of advice have been given to the Town Council and its committees at more meetings than both of us would care to count!

We were shocked when, three months ago, she announced at the end of a meeting that she was going to step down, intending to spend more time with her family.

Brigg Town Council has enjoyed great continuity with very few Town Clerks since its formation in the mid-1970s. 

When we covered our first meeting on the press benches in January 1980 (inside what's now Hewson House), Joseph J Magrath was in charge. Later, Louis T. Jarratt took the helm. And for the past 22 years, Jeanette has been our Town Clerk.

Retiring Town Mayor Edward Arnott made reference to Jeanette's "dedicated service" at the final meeting of Brigg Town Council she attended - the authority's AGM, held in the Angel.

"The staff do a tremendous job," he said, prior to presenting flowers to Jeanette, Assistant Town Clerk Alison Hannath and Angel Suite Manager Karen Deeley.

We know Jeanette wants to bow out quietly, without any fuss, but Brigg Blog felt something should go "on the record" so our site followers locally, and abroad, could be reminded of what's been achieved.