As I write this, my year as Mayor of Brackley is coming to an end. On the 9th of May, the chain will come off, and life will return to something closer to what it was before. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that yet. Today I attended my last Mayor’s coffee morning.

When I became Mayor, I never imagined just how much I would learn. Not about procedures or agendas but about people. How listening can be more powerful than speaking. And how a kind word, offered at the right moment, can mean more than any speech.

This year has taken me into schools, care homes, clubs, churches, businesses and living rooms. Through front doors, side doors and back doors. Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve been met with generosity, humour, honesty and care. Brackley is not perfect but it is kind, and it is real, and it is full of people who want the best for one another.

I will admit something: I am scared to see this finish. Being Mayor has given my days a sense of purpose and direction that will be hard to replace. None of this would have been possible without my wife, Kim. She has been patient, supportive, and quietly strong throughout. I could not have done this without her.

If you take one thing from this final column, let it be this: Brackley is special not because of the buildings or the events, but because of the people who turn up again and again for each other. Thank you for opening your doors to me. It has been the privilege of a lifetime.

BERNIE TILLER

Bernie Tiller

Mayor of Brackley

We’d like to thank Bernie for his hard work and truly invaluable contributions to the Brackley community this past year. It’s been a pleasure having you as our Mayor, and we hope to welcome you back again!

The Life in Brackley Team