A BELOVED tradition to some, a quaint anachronism to others, the role of town mayor gets its fair share of scrutiny.

Bournemouth's incumbent mayor is Councillor Lawrence Williams, who took on the role in May after six years in charge of the town's tourism and leisure brief.

We asked Cllr Williams, whose wife of 42 years Elaine is mayoress, to tell us more about his role and his many and varied encounters with the people of the town.

"To be elected the mayor of any town is an honour. Being the Mayor of Bournemouth is a privilege and an honour and being newly retired has meant the mayoress and I can put our all into the post.

It is five months since I took the oath on the stage at the Pavilion theatre, a day I will never forget.

In these days of austerity, the mayor must adapt and understand that the role continues to evolve. I am personally mindful that council tax payers' money must be spent wisely, after all I am a tax payer myself.

During our five months, the mayoress and I have been able to attend almost every engagement, the exception being when we are double-booked so the deputy mayor, Cllr Eddie Coope, has stepped in and represented the mayoralty.

We have already had nearly 300 engagements ranging from numerous community and resident events, to visiting council and partnership services, such as meetings with service users of a drug and alcohol dependency unit.

Five new businesses opened in one week recently - it is lovely to see Bournemouth growing and prospering.

We have had the honour of attending graduation ceremonies at the Arts University Bournemouth and are due to attend one of the Bournemouth University’s ceremonies in November too. Talking of universities, we recently visited what used to be the Chiropractic College and now the AECC University, a third one in Bournemouth.

Students from all over the world have met with us, some in the Mayor’s Parlour, and we hosted a minister from the Chinese government too.

Amongst the many people and places we have visited, some are fun - such as the very busy Air Festival - and some are quite emotional.

Meeting victims of child abuse was one of the more moving visits when we met some survivors who are now adults, but the exhibition consisted of children’s pictures. Some we met, others are no longer alive.

Garden fetes and fun days in the summer were fun, as were Bournemouth in Bloom events. We supported the Arts Festival too. As a member of the Arts Council in the South West, it was doubly joyful to see people enjoying the various events.

I think visiting schools are the best though, we love it.

On one visit to Harewood and Avonbourne schools, where I am also a governor, we were asked to meet with about 300 young children who were becoming acquainted with ‘big school’ for the day.

As we were shown into the sports hall there was a buzz around the room, as we got closer the assembled crowd moved forward and it was amazing. We were, as the head put it, “treated like rock stars”. They were even asking for my autograph.

We have had two particularly memorable days. The first was representing the town at the Dedication of the Regimental Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton upon Trent in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent.

The second was the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment’s 25th Anniversary Reunion and Colours Presentation at the Kent County Cricket Club in Canterbury. It is important that Bournemouth keep its links with the regiments that served it so well in the two world wars.

Speaking of wars, the biggest date in the mayoral calendar is Remembrance Sunday.

It is so important to remember the fallen and show respect to the veterans. I will, as usual, wear my poppy with pride and will lead the party to the War Memorial in the Gardens.

The town always comes out in force to show respect, and we all remember the fallen together.

We have in five short months met hundreds of volunteers, too many to mention, thousands of people and although sometimes there have been thought-provoking moments, the experience is fantastic.

We both are looking forward to the next seven months and representing Bournemouth with vigour."