BLACKBURN'S annual mayor-making ceremony takes place tonight. David Higgerson spoke to Tony Humphrys about his year with the mayoral chains around his neck.

AS the annual mayor-making takes place tonight, Tony Humphrys prepares to see his picture join Blackburn with Darwen's mayoral hall of fame.

And he is happy to admit that part of him is glad his year in office is over.

"It will be nice to wake up and remember that we haven't got any engagements at all," said Tony, a Shadsworth councillor and postman.

His early mornings as postman around the Higher Croft estate haven't stopped, despite a diary crammed with about 400 events over the last 12 months.

Tony said: "The Royal Mail have been very good about it and been flexible and so have my colleagues, so I have to thank them for that. They told me to enjoy my year as mayor and that is something I have certainly done.

"It has totally restored my faith in the borough. People always go on about doom and gloom, but I have seen so many great things over the last year."

His itinerary has included three royal visits, plus a trip to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen during one of her Golden Jubilee parties.

He said: "That was probably the highlight of my wife Jacqueline's year and it was an experience we will never forget. But what I enjoyed just as much was going round to the schools, taking part in their jubilee celebrations.

"We did a lot of those, as many as we could fit in."

In an age where voter apathy is common and older generations continually talk of a lack of respect in modern-day society, Coun Humphrys says he is surprised at the level of respect the mayoralty still commands.

He said: "People, almost without exception, have always been kind, courteous and shown us the utmost respect.

"I forget the number of times we have been asked by children if we live in a castle and how many servants we have. The mayor's job seems to catch the imagination and people still have respect for the post."

The furthest afield he has travelled as mayor is to Altena, the borough's German twin town, where he inadvertently found himself at the centre of attention.

He said: "There were four towns represented and we were the only mayor and mayoress with chains. None of the others had them.

"We had to attend this banquet in the castle one night and, on the strength of the chains, we ended up being heralded in to a fanfare. I think we might have started a trend for chains!"

But with the good memories Tony and his wife will treasure -- and no doubt recall when they go on holiday to Benidorm in the summer to relax -- are some more poignant tales.

Coun Humphrys said: "We were at a school concert at King George's Hall and the youngsters were singing about peace. It was around the time the Iraq war started. I looked around and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

"At the same time, we have attended several memorial services for road accident victims, which is why I get so annoyed with parents when they don't teach their children to cross the roads properly.

"It has been an excellent year, we've raised thousands of pounds for charity and I think the only piece of advice I have to the next mayor is: "Enjoy it!"