"My name is David Ogg and I have the great honour of being the Maldon Town Mayor.

"I have lived and worked in this wonderful community for nearly 20 years and I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the rather battered truck in which I go about my business!

"Despite appearances I have a passion for cars, particularly classics and vintage and can often be seen driving my Jaguar SS100, 'Audrey' - the love of my life, apart from my wife, the Mayoress, that is.

"Over the next year I, and my deputy, Councillor Andrew Lay, hope to meet many more of you as we shall be attending as many functions as possible. It is also my intention to support and raise money for local charities and I hope very much that you will support the fundraising activities that we are planning once the lifting of Covid restrictions allows social gatherings. Andrew and I have a great team around us and I, in particular, have had the benefit of mentoring by my predecessor, Councillor Abdul Hafiz.

"As a member of the Town Council I have often been asked questions which are not part of my remit because there is a lot of confusion about the different levels of councillors.

"The lowest level of local government is the Parish and Town Council level, which represent only their local parish or town. Above them, the the District Council is made up of representatives from each area of the district and above that is the County Council.

"Your representatives on the Town Council are volunteers. They do not receive payment although the Mayor, in some parishes the Chairman, has a small allowance to help with the costs of attending the many functions to which they are invited.

"Deputy Mayor Andrew lay and his Consort, wife Karen, along with myself and the Mayoress, my wife Sharon, all look forward to serving the community over the year ahead."