Councillor Ian Bark has been elected mayor of Bridport for a second year - and hopes to move from the virtual into the real world.

Throughout his term in office over the past 12 months, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted on the role of mayor. Cllr Bark has had to become a virtual mayor with Zoom and video conferencing being the way he has attended and chaired town council meetings, as well as speaking at various group meetings.

He has also been writing a blog for which he has received a lot of positive comments and suggestions. As a result of the blog, Cllr Bark has found himself at 6.30am milking cows at Hollis Mead dairy farm, walking the Bridport Green Route, beach cleaning, making rope in the museum, meeting the dove man of Crock Lane, supporting the Bridport Tree Planting Group and Allington Hillbillies, and more.

He said: "It goes without saying that I am deeply honoured to be able to serve our wonderful town once again.

"Writing the blog has enabled me to support, encourage and praise organisations and people. It has also enabled me to respond to and bring to a wider audience, issues and concerns that are of concern to many. Most interesting of all it has enabled me to meet some amazing people.

"The people of Bridport rose to the challenge posed by lockdowns by volunteering their time, energy and skills to support those in need by providing hot meals, collecting prescriptions, doing the shopping and other basic but essential tasks. I had the pleasure of standing alongside the Dorset High Sheriff, George Streatfeild, to present awards to just some of those who had been so generous.

"Meeting and thanking the shopkeepers and their staff who had worked on the frontline throughout the pandemic to ensure that we were able to feed ourselves and collect our prescriptions has been another privilege. Adapting their businesses to include online and home deliveries meant we did not have to put ourselves at risk. Without them our lives would have been so much more challenging."

As lockdowns eased, even ore businesses and venues have been able to open, including Bridport's market.

Cllr Bark added: "I have had a great time meeting market traders and taking photographs of them. The market is a vitally important part of our business community. Not only does it attract people into the town who then spend in our shops, but it also is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to test the water and in time grow their business. As we emerge into the post pandemic era, this will become even more vital."

Cllr Bark also wants to thank the town council staff on behalf of the people of Bridport, who have continued to work throughout the pandemic, highlighting town clerk Will Austin and his team, as well as town surveyor Daryl Chambers and his team. Projects have included installing new benches in the community orchard and a new tree house at St Mary's Primary School - which Cllr Bark had the pleasure of officially opening, climbing and sliding down the fireman's pole.

He also wants to thank his wife, Anne, the mayor's secretary Jill Beed, Will Austin and deputy mayor Sarah Williams for all their support during the past year.

He has also been able to support a number of charities and causes - the Burrough Harmony Centre, Cupboard Love Food Bank, Plastic Free Bridport and Litter Free Champions campaign.

Cllr Bark said: "It has been frustrating that I have not been able to be as active as I would have hoped with fundraising events, but I am told that my support in other ways has been of significant benefit in raising awareness and successful grant applications. One thing I will be repeating this year is my appeal to those who receive a winter fuel allowance grant to donate it to one of my charities, which for the coming year will be the Burrough Harmony Centre and The Living Tree."

Due to Covid restrictions, Cllr Bark has only attended one occasion in full robe and chain - Remembrance Sunday - and full chain - memorial service for Prince Philip at Wimborne Minster.

He added: "I now look forward to the post pandemic era and embracing the opportunities that have started to emerge. We need to strive to embrace the opportunities we are being presented with as we build a better, fairer world for all our citizens. If we think dealing with the pandemic has been tough, we face an event greater challenge over coming years in dealing with the climate emergency. If we fail to meet that challenge future generations will not forgive us.

"As your mayor over the coming year I am really looking forward to moving from the virtual into the real world once again. I look forward to supporting and meeting face to face many more of the wonderful organisations, businesses and people of Bridport."

Find Cllr Bark's full blog post here.

Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter below!

You can submit your own news straight to Bridport Nub News by using the 'Nub It' button on our home page. This can also be done for events on our What's On page and businesses, groups and organisations on our Local Listings page , also by using the 'Nub It' button.

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @BridportNubNews on Facebook and Twitter.