FELIXSTOWE'S new mayor is looking forward to an exciting and challenging year in office.Mike Deacon is having a second spell as the resort's first citizen - his first was 15 years ago - and he and his wife Anne are looking forward to it just as much this time.

FELIXSTOWE'S new mayor is looking forward to an exciting and challenging year in office.

Mike Deacon is having a second spell as the resort's first citizen - his first was 15 years ago - and he and his wife Anne are looking forward to it just as much this time.

During his year the town will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Royal Air Force being granted the Freedom of Felixstowe and major celebrations are being planned.

The chain which Mr Deacon was presented with at the annual town council meeting by outgoing mayor Joan Sennington is the only one in the country to feature the RAF insignia badge.

Mr Deacon, who has served as deputy mayor for the last year, said Mrs Sennington had been a fine ambassador for the seaside town in the past 12 months, despite the housing controversy which dogged her last days in office, and he was looking forward to carrying on the good work she had been doing.

“I am really looking forward to it very much - we really enjoyed it last time and know what the role holds for us, and I am sure it is going to be a wonderful year again,” he said.

“There will be special events and occasions, particularly the RAF celebrations, but the thing I am looking forward to most is getting to meet all the people who work so hard in a voluntary capacity to serve our town and make the place tick.

“There are some very special people out there involved in organisations working with the young right through to the elderly and meeting them, paying tribute to their service and thanking them for their hard work will be a real joy.”

It could also prove to be a very challenging year with further discussions on where new homes for the resort will be built.

Mr Deacon, of Walton High Street, who works for the Port of Felixstowe, has been a councillor for the town's north ward of Walton for more than 20 years, sitting on Felixstowe Town Council and Suffolk Coastal.

He is chairman of the Felixstowe Drama Festival, and the only Labour councillor at Suffolk Coastal, where he is also vice-chairman of the corporate services scrutiny committee, and represents the council on the Spa Pavilion liaison group.

He has worked hard for his ward over the years on many issues and was also the founder of the Felixstowe in Flower project which has helped win the resort so many floral awards.

Give your thoughts on Mike Deacon's year ahead - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk