MIDDLEWICH town clerk Jonathan Williams was thrown a surprise celebration event to mark 30 years of ‘tireless’ work for the community.

Councillors and council officers past and present gathered at Middlewich Town Hall on Friday, August 7, along with Jonathan’s family, to show their appreciation for the long-standing town clerk.

Jonathan, who started the job in 1985 at the age of 23, was told an event was being held at the town hall to celebrate the 25th anniversary year of the Folk and Boat Festival, but was given a humbling welcome by people he has worked alongside over the past three decades.

Jonathan said: “It was a lovely surprise and it was a nice gathering of family and friends. It’s a very humbling experience.

“They brought my family out and I thought that was a very nice gesture and nice to celebrate with them. No matter how old you get you still need the support of your parents and I couldn’t do it without their support so it was such a lovely touch to get my family down.

“When I first started when I was 23 I had come home with a degree in my back pocket and looking for a job and it was a great leap of faith for the council at that time to hire me and I was determined to repay them for that.

“It’s a great honour to have had such a pivotal role in such a time for change in Middlewich.

“I still enjoy it after 30 years because it’s my home town so I have such a passion for it and the philosophy of public service as well. You’re there to serve the community and that is something I really enjoy.”

Jonathan also recalled his favourite memory from working as Middlewich town clerk, coming as an unlikely pick in mud and rain.

“The highlight of the last 30 years was standing in the mud and the rain on the first Roman Festival in 2001”, Jonathan added.

“It was the first time we put an event on like that and people came to Middlewich because they wanted to rather than being stuck in traffic. It was a brilliant weekend but what it became was the shaping of Middlewich Town Council.”

Liz Rosenthfield worked with Jonathan for years and was one of the main instigators in the surprise celebrations.

Liz said: “I have known Jonathan for many years through the FAB Festival among other things so it was a privilege to be asked to help to organise his 30th year do.

“More times than I can count, I have bumped into Jonathan at outdoor events tirelessly doing the jobs that I am sure were never written into his original job description from standing for endless hours in hot sun or heavy rain on 'car park duty' to doing his 'stint' on a council stall.

“Events ranging from music to markets and from Romans to car shows, and for all the other stuff that I have no doubt most people don't even get to hear about that keeps our town running smoothly, a well-deserved thank you.”