CONWY must be one of the busiest small towns in North Wales, according to outgoing Mayor, Cllr Bill Chapman.

Bill’s mayoral year comes to an end this month, and reflecting on the last 12 months he said : "I didn't realise that there is so much going on in our community, but pretty quickly I realised how much there was to do, my feet didn’t touch the ground. But I’ve enjoyed every minute and wouldn’t have been anywhere else. However I couldn’t have managed without the support of my wife Pat."

He added: "She and I have attended almost 120 formal duties. It has been a year of openings and unveilings: together we opened two art exhibitions, unveiled a plaque at Conwy Community Orchard, opened the refurbished Maelgwyn Pub in Llandudno Junction. It was a delight to open the new dipping pond at the RSPB reserve.

“Last, but not least, I was privileged to declare the renovated shelter on Deganwy Promenade open. The renovation was a tribute to the commitment and effort of a small team of local people.

“It has also been a more international year than I ever imagined it would be. We have met all kinds of groups from overseas, from France, Germany even Guadaloupe and tourism leaders from Norway.

“In October we welcomed a group of Esperanto speakers at the Guildhall, and from last November I have been working with Jim Jones of North Wales Tourism on a project to bring in even more visitors from overseas.”

He added: “We celebrated International Women’s Day with singing, a talk on women’s suffrage in this area and lighting up of the castle.

“We gained an insight into how all kinds of local organisations work and discovered what they do. We have visited Deganwy Friendship Club, the Women’s Institute and the Mothers Union, and both nursing homes on several occasions.

“I was particularly impressed with the uniformed youth groups and those who run them, I’ve even seen the Conwy Sea Cadets in Deganwy carrying out a mock emergency. We have met scouts, guides and cubs.

“The most striking and unusual event of the year, and one I’d never expected, was a visit as Mayor to HMP Berwyn, the new prison in north Wales.

“Finally, this has been a musical year. I have hosted three concerts: There was a male voice choir concert in St Mary’s, a concert by a youth choir in Deganwy and one featuring a duo called Chonkinfeckle in Llandudno Junction. These concerts and other activities raised over £3,000 for my mayoral charity, Conwy Citizens Advice.

“Now the year is drawing to its end I wish my successor, cllr Sam Cotton, has a great year and one every bit as enjoyable as mine has been.”