Clog iron hand-over

HAND-over . . . Gerry De Maine presents the clog-iron chain of office to Roger Fielding

ROGER Fielding has followed in his father’s footsteps to become the new Mayor of Austerlands.

Retiring Mayor Gerry De Maine handed over the clog-iron chain of office at the village’s Red Lion pub.

It is only the second time that the honour has passed through two generations, with Mr Fielding’s father Ben serving as Mayor in 1977. Mr Fielding, a chartered secretary, spent his early years living in Austerlands until the family moved to the sister village of Hey, where he has lived for the past 50 years.