Retiring Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Mrs. Jessie Milne was thanked for her tremendous efforts in representing the authority. Cllr. Mrs. Milne attended one hundred and sixty-seven events, between 2012 - 2013 including the Olympic torch relay in Saxilby and a special service to commemorate the Dambusters anniversary.

Cllr. Mrs. Milne's fellow councillors showered her with praise as she officially handed over the chain of office to Cllr. Mrs. Irmgard Parrott at the Full Council meeting on Monday, 20th May 2013. Retiring Leader of the Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach said:

“I would like to thank her and say I shall never forget the aplomb and dignity that was hers in leading the council.”

Cllr. Jeff Summers, Conservative Leader of the Council, congratulated her on a job well done and said:

“Your chairmanship has been memorable, we’re truly grateful.”

Reflecting on her year in office, Cllr. Mrs. Milne said:

“The role of the chairman is to keep West Lindsey in the forefront of everyone’s mind and I will miss not being out there telling people what a great place West Lindsey is. I have met a lot of interesting people and I have been fortunate to visit places that not everyone gets the opportunity to visit. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported my civic functions for making my year so enjoyable.

“I am really proud of what we at West Lindsey have achieved and are still achieving. Being chairman is a great honour, it is more than a name and a chain, it’s hard work.”

As well as hosting the Civic Service, Civic Dinner and the Civic Carol Service she also attended the following:

• Hosted a tribute to the RAF Scampton based 617 Squadron crews, who flew daring raids on the Ruhr Valley dams in Germany, including a flypast of the Lancaster from the Battle of Britain flight.
• Attending the Olympic torch relay at Saxilby.
• Celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee weekend by attending as many towns and villages in West Lindsey as possible.

Cllr. Mrs. Milne expressed her gratitude and privilege at the hundreds of invitations she received from plays, musicals and various community events. One memorable event was the thought-provoking sunset ceremony at RAF Scampton’s commemoration for the Dambusters. She said:

“I had the privilege of meeting veteran Jonny Johnson and the daughter of Barnes Wallis. Mr Johnson told me they didn’t worry about the mission because they were so busy they didn’t have time to think. He was so unassuming and he could not see that he had done anything special.”

The former chairman helped raise money for a number of charities such the East Midlands Stroke Association and the West Lindsey Branches of the Air Training Cadets. She said:

“I chose to support these charities to because they are close to my heart and the ATC do so much for the young people in the area. I also raised money for the Dambusters Memorial Fund and the Army Benevolent fund through the special Dambusters church service.”