Anne and Ben are picture perfect

Deputy Mayor of North Down, Alderman Anne Wilson, was on hand to congratulate Ben Watson who was the outstanding winner of the Rotary Club of Bangor’s Young Photographer of the Year Competition.

Anne, who chose not to stand for re-election in the recent Local Government Elections, told members of her experience as a Councillor on the North Down Borough Council over the past 20 years.

“It was all a bit of an accident,” she explained. “The Alliance Party asked me to stand as a ‘paper candidate’ in the by-election that was called following the sad loss of Hazel Bradford. I wasn’t supposed to win, but I did. And after serving the people of North Down for 20 years I can say it was a great stroke of good fortune that has given me a lot of pleasure.”

But it hasn’t been two decades without challenges and when asked to cite her most frustrating experience the Alderman talked about the Council decision to build a Gun Club into the new community building planned for Hamilton Road.

“I think this is a wrong decision and have fought against it since it was suggested. It has been the most frustrating experience of my time in office and I hope the new North Down and Ards Council might succeed in reversing the decision where I have failed.”

After some questions and answers the Deputy Mayor was pleased to present Ben Watson with his prize as the Rotary Club of Bangor’s Young Photographer of the Year. His prize consisted of cash and a framed print of his winning photograph courtesy of Sonia Lilley and Kodak Expresson Bangor’s Main Street.