Councillor Lay tells Nub News how he hopes to help bring the community together during his year as Mayor.

Sitting in Costa Coffee on Maldon High Street, you couldn't necessarily tell who the Town Mayor was, until you spotted his Mayoral chains. Andrew Lay is a member of the community first, and a councillor second.

While Maldon District Council focuses on the day-to-day running of the district's recycling, planning, and leisure facilities, Andrew explains how the Town Council helps take care of Maldon's heritage sites such as Thomas Plume's Library and the Moot Hall, among other things.

"The role of the Town Council is more about connecting with residents and signposting facilities for people," he says.

"While the demographic is changing, there are a lot of older people in the town who want to do things like banking, or getting visitor information, in person."

After Maldon's Tourist Information Centre in Wenlock Way was shut down by Maldon District Council in 2019, it moved to the Town Hall at the top of Market Hill.

Now called The Maldon Visitor Information Centre, it then moved across the road last year, to the Maeldune Heritage Centre, where it is run by volunteers.

Town Mayor Andrew Lay outside Maldon's Visitor Information Centre, based in the Plume Building (Photo: Nub News)

Andrew worked 'in the city' at HSBC for 35 years, where he started in the post room. His work took him to financial institutions all around the world.

But when Andrew was given the opportunity to spend more time with his family, it gave him the chance to reconsider his priorities.

In 2017, he became a volunteer at Home-Start in Maldon, which is why it is now one of his chosen mayoral charities.

When a vacancy came up on Maldon Town Council in 2019, Andrew put himself forward and was selected as a councillor following an interview. His background in finance made him the obvious choice to Chair the Council's Financial Committee, so he was elected to do so. He helped write policies and tackle larger issues in the town.

Andrew says he is keen to represent the diverse people of Maldon, which is why he feels it's so important to have a voice, especially when it comes to influencing Planning decisions.

He says: "You can't sit back and let things happen without saying anything."

Fairness is a key issue for Andrew, which is why he wants to engage with all the High Street's shops individually, as well as business groups.

During the Platinum Jubilee celebrations at the beginning of June, Maldon Town Council launched a competition to encourage shop owners throughout the High Street to decorate their windows in red, white, and blue.

Andrew personally awarded the winners with certificates designed by 'fantastic' Town Council staff member Kathryn Cameron.

"One shop owner was even in tears. She was just so grateful that someone had appreciated her work," he said.

Andrew also hopes to get to know Maldon's 'unsung' volunteer groups, who he feels need to be 'respected' for what they do.

But it's not just volunteer groups he's grateful for. Andrew also highlighted the important work done by Jane Coleman and the team at Maldon Town Council Office, who do a 'fantastic, unsung' job.

In addition, he is focused on the environmental factors which affect residents, which is why he helped organise a public meeting to discuss the status of the River Chelmer and Blackwater Estuary, next month.

"I'm really pleased people like Feargal Sharkey and John Whittingdale want to do it.

"We can't wait for others to sort the river out."

However, with his experience as a cricket umpire and football referee, Andrew intends to keep the discussion civil and 'timely'.

"It is not to be a shouting match," he warns.

As Andrew spoke, I spotted a woman at the next table glancing not-so-subtly at his mayoral chain. I asked if he ever felt self-conscious when spotted in public, but he tells me he is 'very, very proud' and 'humbled' by his position.

"I think the mayor should be seen – it's not a sort of gentleman's club.

"The mayor should be known. That's why I sometimes wear a red sweater with 'Town Mayor, Maldon' on it when I pick the kids up from school.

"It's so people can talk to me in public – you can meet great people in this town.

"People should know who you are."