For three years from 1971 to 1974, my dear wife Cheran was 'First Lady' in our small town of Shoreham by Sea.  We had been married for only two years and Cheran was only 26, when I became Chairman of the Urban District Council and she found herself at the centre of community life, as well as being centre of mine.  Despite a difficult start when there was controversy surrounding my election, we quickly settled into our new role and began to receive invitations from groups in the town wanting us to attend functions such as fetes, coffee mornings, openings, sports events, dinners and church services.

The very first invitation came from Buckingham Palace, inviting us to attend a Royal Garden Party.  This was a very special event for both of us, and Cheran rose to the occasion with a new outfit (the first of many!) and a brand new 'hair-do'.  We decided to travel to London by train, and were surprised when a photographer from our local newspaper, Shoreham Herald, came to picture us at the station.  This was to be the public's introduction to Cheran, who had lived here only since 1969, and the resulting photograph did her full justice.  Even the modest Cheran was pleased with the result.  It was a warm, sunny day and, needless to say, we had a wonderful time proudly representing our little town.  The young Cheran mingled easily with the hundreds of much older mayors, mayoresses and other civic heads, as well as aristocracy and religious leaders from all over the Commonwealth, many of them in colourful robes and costumes.  Cheran looked stunning, and I was so proud of her.

After that, invitations came in thick and fast, and Cheran was always a credit to our town.  Her many talents included dressmaking, and I recall especially the way she adapted her wedding dress, which she had made in 1969, to fashion a magnificent evening dress to wear at the Chairman's Christmas Party.  This annual event was our chance to entertain the leaders of local organisations who had given us hospitality during the year.  Cheran herself arranged all the food and, what's more, delighted our guests with an excellent performance of some of her favourite songs (another of her great talents), accompanied by a friend on piano.

As a result, she was invited by several local clubs to sing at their lunches and tea parties.  Cheran always accepted and sang beautifully, although she admitted privately to not relishing the idea of singing on a full stomach!  In those days we were not vegetarian and, looking back at the menus for the many lunches and dinners we attended, I cannot find one instance where a vegetarian option was available.  That could have caused problems then but, fortunately, there's a more enlightened attitude these days.  One of the lunches was on Christmas Day at an Old People's Home.  We were warmly received by the residents, and Cheran told them how excited she was at not having to cook our dinner at home that day.

During our time in office, we were put in touch with the famous astronomer Patrick Moore, who had composed a light opera in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan.  He was looking for an amateur company to give it a world premiere, and Cheran was quick to gather a group of music-loving friends to form such a company in Shoreham.  Perseus and Andromeda opened to a capacity audience in our newly-built community hall in 1975, and its success was largely due to Cheran's enthusiasm and talent for organisation.  Patrick Moore became the company's first President and a good friend.  Thirty years later, on the occasion of Cheran's 60th birthday, he sent this message to her: 'It was great fun, and you were a tremendous help'.

One highlight of our three years (I was re-elected in 1972 and 1973) came when the Sussex Yacht Club, based in Shoreham, hosted the World Hornet Sailing Championships in 1972.  Races took place every day for a week, and each evening there were special events for the 100 competitors and officials from all over the world.  There were a civic reception and the Band of the Royal Artillery in the Park, a firework display, a barn dance and barbecue, a wine and cheese party and a presentation dinner and dance.  It was quite a week, and one day we both also ventured out to sea on a yacht, to watch the races.

We attended several lavish dinners and balls hosted by mayors and chairmen of neighbouring authorities.  Of course, Cheran needed a new dress for such occasions (I had to hire mine!) and, each time, in my opinion, she outclassed the other ladies with all their finery and regalia.  Another special occasion occurred at the Royal Festival Hall in London, when we were invited to attend the AGM of the Royal National Lifeboat Association.  There we witnessed our local lifeboat coxswain receiving a bronze medal for seamanship, courage and good judgment while rescuing five men from a drilling rig in difficult conditions, and we were honoured to be presented to the President of the RNLI, HRH the Duke of Kent.  This event triggered Cheran's fervent and lasting interest in the lifeboat service, which included her making a film for the local RNLI of the events surrounding the naming of a new Shoreham lifeboat in 1991.

Cheran was 'hands on' at many of the events we attended.  Often she had to present prizes and draw raffle tickets, and three times prepared the food for a Town Hall reception for students from France and Germany who were being hosted in Shoreham during the summer.  She help to cook 'bangers' at a barbecue for the Nautical Training Corps, and also named a new boat 'Shoreham' at the rowing club.  When we were invited to flower shows, Cheran entered some of the floral art classes and twice received a first prize for her beautiful arrangements.  She was also a valued member of the councillors team at the annual bowls match against the council staff.  And, during three hectic years of civic engagements, Cheran took on the office of treasurer in the newly formed branch of the Women's Institute and became Group Leader of the local branch of the British Red Cross Society.

Twice we travelled into Brighton on a Christmas morning, to broadcast live on Radio Brighton a Christmas message to Shoreham.  Cheran was always at my side, whatever function I was asked to attend and whenever I had to make a speech, with the sole exception of two all-male dinners when I really missed her supporting presence.  All told, we attended about 750 such functions together, right up till the time when dear old Shoreham Council ceased to exist in 1974.

As a comparative newcomer to Shoreham, Cheran threw herself into the life of our community and became much loved by everyone who came into contact with her.  I was so proud to have her at my side as 'First Lady'.  Indeed, I could never have taken on the chairmanship without her.