Minutes:
Thanks were given to Former Councillor Glenys Maxwell in the following terms:-
Councillor Jason Zadrozny - Leader of the Council
“Thank you Mr. Chairman and may I be the first to congratulate you on actually taking your seat of office there. Obviously it goes without saying that we owe an enormous debt of thanks to Glenys for what she’s done for this Council for the last eight years, and particularly over this last year.
She took over the stewardship of this Chamber during a year where she had lots of health problems, and when it was politically fraught and managed to still stay friendly with all sides of the Chamber and handle some of the most difficult Council meetings I’ve ever seen with a smile and the courage of her convictions.
She’s been a dedicated ward member for Sutton West and then Huthwaite and Brierley. She is firmly a Huthwaite girl. She cares very much about it, and has always championed the cause of the area there. I think not only does this Chamber and the Councillors in it owe her enormous thanks for what she’s done but I think the residents of Ashfield do as well.
She’s been a fantastic ambassador. She’s been a very great friend for a lot longer than she’s been a Council friend and I’ll miss her, for one, in this Chamber.
So, Councillor Maxwell it would be very remiss of me not to present, on behalf of the Council, some flowers, your certificate and the award on behalf of the Council.”
Councillor Tom Hollis - Deputy Leader of the Council
“Firstly, congratulations Tony it’s great to see you in the seat of Chairman. I think it’s quite right to say you’ve been there from the beginning with all our Group and it’s a thoroughly deserved position, and I hope you and Pat really enjoy the year that’s ahead of you.
But Glenys, I’ve told Andrew already he’s got massive shoes to fill and I said to him, if he sets out to achieve it, he’s going to set out to fail and I think ultimately Huthwaite and Brierley, Sutton West as it was before, and the rest of Ashfield, really has been well served by you.
I feel quite lucky that you’ve been there on both sides of the coin, nipping at my heels when I’ve been doing stuff wrong as County Councillor and working with me on projects and it certainly will be a bit of a weird situation not having you sit here on the Council with us. From my perspective working with you, against you and together it has been a real experience of which I’ve enjoyed all of it, and I certainly class you as a good friend of mine as well.
Sadly, you like a spicier curry than I do and I hope you don’t judge me on that!
But Glenys I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Huthwaite.
You know it’s a place I care very much about as well and you’ll certainly be missed on Ashfield Council but I hope you enjoy the flowers and there’s a bit of a memory of what we all think of you. Thank you Chairman for allowing me to speak and I wish you all the best Glenys for your endeavours in the future. I’m sure they’ll be bright and wonderful like you have been on the Council.”
Councillor Rostance
“May I firstly congratulate you Tony on your year. Have a wonderful year and I’m looking forward to working with you. And now I will speak about my mate Glenys. And she is my mate. It’s wonderful to see you looking so well again, Glenys. You’ve been through some real hard times, some real tough times, and you’re looking better than you’ve looked for a long time so keep it up.
Enjoy your retirement. You’ve been a wonderful ambassador for this Council. You’re always very welcome in Hucknall and I shall look forward to seeing you socially on our meet ups on a Sunday. So Glenys all my very best wishes in your retirement and look forward to seeing you again.”
Deputy Leader of the Council – Councillor Helen-Ann Smith
“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I’d just like to start by saying congratulations on your appointment to Chair of this Council but I’d also like to say that you have got very big shoes to fill. Glenys has been a brilliant ambassador for this authority, not once but twice.
This year, as it’s been said, she has had quite a few health issues but she has still put this Authority at the forefront. Even when she was really poorly she still turned out to the Armed Forces Day services in Sutton Town Centre and came and sat with us and spoke to the people that were performing at the Armed Forces Day service.
So Glenys, I thank you for everything that you’ve done for this Authority. Not just as Chairman this time, but as Chairman before, and all the work that you’ve done not just for your residents but we personally know that you do work for a lot of other people in the area as well, so I want to personally thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Councillor David Martin
“Thank you Chair and congratulations on your appointment. I’m sure you’ve got some big boots to fill and I’m sure you’ll do your best.
I personally met Glenys for the first time ever at the County Council and she’s always been a perfect politician, even in Selston when we opened one of the recreation grounds. Last year she had a really bad year last year health wise and I really admire her fortitude for staying the course. That’s the thing, she handled this Chamber with great presence and the rod of an expert really and I’d just like to wish you all the best in the future.
Thank you for being a role model for other Councillors. I’m sure people in Huthwaite and Ashfield generally will miss you as a Councillor because I know you’ve been a great asset to this District. Thank you for your time.”
Councillor John Wilmott
“I can remember Glenys when she came on to the Council all those years ago, and as Chairman of this Council she’s been a remarkable person really. Remarkable that she was so seriously ill that even when she was so seriously ill she came to meetings, she came and represented the Authority when really she shouldn’t have done. It was because of her total commitment to this post that she has had over the last twelve months that it’s been a remarkable time for her.
As I say, remarkable that she even went the extra mile at events when she knew a visit would mean admittance to hospital and it’s remarkable the work that she did do when she knew that she should be in hospital rather than working for this Council.
Congratulations I say, go to you for all the hard work you’ve done over the many years. I do not think we’ve seen the last of Glenys though. I thought that because she has improved in health now and I think she’ll be back to prove to everyone what a good person she is to work in the community. I’m absolutely astonished as to the work that she did over those twelve months.
Also congratulations to Tony. I’m sure you’ll be a tremendous ambassador for this Authority and well done both of you.”
Councillor David Hennigan
“Thank you. I, wasn’t going to speak and it was something that Councillor Helen-Ann Smith said and it was during the Armed Forces Day commemorations in Portland Square. The biggest sort of shock of the day was the fact that you came. We thought you were on death’s door Glenys; honest to goodness, Jason was telling me that we should write a leaflet just in case for Huthwaite and Brierley!
You’ve been superb Glenys and I’ve seen the scars. I’ve seen you come into this office and you get a lot of politicians and what they do is, they just keep themselves to themselves whereas you didn’t, you were in always talking to the Council staff and I won’t thank you for showing me your scars which you did on numerous occasions…..!
But I wish you well, whatever you do. You’ve given years and years and years making this District a better place, and Councillor Brewer you know people have said that you’ve got big boots to fill and you have, and I wish you luck because you’ve certainly got the personality and the passion for Ashfield to carry on the great work that Glenys has done, so good luck to you and thank you Glenys.”
Councillor Andrew Harding
“Councillor Harding – I’d just like to congratulate you Councillor Brewer on your Chairmanship, and say thank you to Glenys for all that you’ve done and I look forward to seeing you around. Thank you.”
Former Councillor Maxwell then took the opportunity to say thank you as follows:-
“Well, all I can say is thank you ever so much for your kind remarks and everything and yes I do remember the Armed Forces Day. I was nearly there in my pyjamas. I walked straight out of Kings Mill intensive care and I just managed, and I don’t know how I did, to get to the chair and sit there and just say hello to everybody. But, no matter what, Ashfield has been tremendous to work for.
All the Councillors and the past Councillors, I’ve always tried to be fair and Tony will do a good job, I know he will, but I was honoured to represent this Council for two years and I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it. So all I can say is thank you. I wish you all the best, and that’s it. Thank you.”