DONNING the mayoral chains one last time was the closing farewell for long-serving Masterton Mayor Bob Francis at his final council meeting yesterday.
Councillors offered a mixture of accolades from well wishes and thank-you gestures to stories of differences and challenging times over the years.
Mr Francis thanked the council for their
commitment and friendship over the years and played the neutral card, wishing all the councillors success in the upcoming election.
Deputy Mayor Garry Daniell spoke of the glistening water that Wairarapa represents and how the district has been through a period where it was once dubbed Death Valley.
"At the end of your era you have retained the true meaning of Wairarapa and once again the water glistens."
Mr Francis' parting note was that he had only "wonderful memories and no regrets" in what has been an exciting and challenging time that he will always look back on favourably.
Bob Francis is pictured centre with councillors from left, Owen Perry, Judith Callaghan, Garry Daniell, Jane Terpstra, Jonathan Hooker, Rod McKenzie, Brent Goodwin and Chris Peterson.
