Selby town clerk Tina Mason to stand down

Tributes have been paid to Tina Mason, who has been described as incredibly supportive and possesses a “yes we can” attitude.

Ms Mason, 57, has decided to leave the position with Selby Town Council after nine years, after she moved from the district council, where she worked for 11 years.

Ms Mason, who lives in Riccall, said she was glad to see the town progressing, and that a lot of hard work had paid off with a number of local projects.

Ms Mason said: “Selby hasn’t really changed that much in nine years, apart from some of the shops. The Crombie Wilkinson Trueform Clock was the first real success I had, back in 2003.” The cherished 1907 clock was restored and re-hung after being removed to make way for the then new Abbey Walk shopping complex, prompting hundreds of inquiries from residents about its whereabouts and reinstatment.

She said: “I’ve been working on the community woodland for two years now, and that has been real work – getting grant funding together. I’ve seen the town hall arts programme grow as well and it now gets regular sell-outs.”

Town Council leader Steve Shaw-Wright said Ms Mason would be missed, but not forgotten. He said: “Tina has been with us for nine years, and has been instrumental in a tremendous number of changes over that period of time. She has been really good for the town, and a very supportive officer to me as leader. We’ve worked really well together and she always had a ‘yes we can’ attitude to ideas. She will be greatly missed, but I am sure we will be seeing her around.”

Ms Mason said: “I know I’ll miss it, it has been a real privilege. I’ve enjoyed it immensely, but I’m sure my successor will make their own mark too.”

As far as future plans, Ms Mason has a couple of things in mind: “It’s time I got my personal life back, really.

“The first thing I have planned is some gardening. I’ve got quite a big garden, and I’ve never had chance to get to grips with it.”