First CLASS Mayor!

BALLYMONEY’S ‘First Citizen’ Bill Kennedy showed he really is a ‘First CLASS Mayor’ by dropping in to Carrowreagh Primary School in answer to a touching letter from a young pupil, writes Nevin Farrell.

Pupils at the Finvoy Road school visited Ballymoney Council chamber recently and were disappointed at not being able to meet the Mayor.

So the 18 pupils in Carol Young’s P4 class set about the task of each penning a letter to the Council to see, instead, if Mayor Kennedy could come along to their school to meet them ... and bring his official Chain of Office along too.

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Young Bailey Lyons’ letter was selected as the best and sent off to Riada House.

The letter read: ‘Dear Mayor - Thank you for letting us see around the Council chambers. We were very sad we could not see you. We would love you to come to our school so we can meet you. When you come please wear your chain. We are looking forward to seeing you - Yours sincerely, Bailey Lyons.’

As the letter winged its way to the Council offices and went through the Council’s mail system it was given an official Ballymoney Borough Council stamp to say it reached the headquarters of local government in Ballymoney on March 14.

The letter was soon seen by Mayor Kennedy who made it his mission to insert a trip to Carrowreagh into his busy diary.

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And last week Mayor Kennedy answered the plea from young Bailey and visited the school.

Carol Young told the Times: “We were delighted the Mayor was able to drop in to the school. The children had hoped they may have met the Mayor at the Council offices and when he was not present during the visit he made sure the children were not disappointed. It also showed just how persuasive a good letter can be - so well done Bailey.”

During the school visit the Mayoral Chain was a big attraction and some of the children got to try it on for good measure.

Mayor Kennedy said: “I was pleased to get out to the school and meet the children. It was great that they showed an interest in the Council to come in and visit our headquarters so it was only fitting that I went out to the school to meet them.

“Bailey’s letter was really well written and just could not be ignored,” said Mayor Kennedy.

With powers of persuasion like that who knows maybe young Bailey could himself be Mayor some day!