Young 18-year-old Gareth Johnson receives First VX cup from retiring Mayor, Pat Coleman, in 1989

Gareth Johnson MP remembers retiring Mayor as an 18-year-old at Dartford Grammar School

This week Dartford’s Mayor, Pat Coleman will step down. This is the third time he has given his free time up for the role. The first time Gareth met Pat was in the 1980s when he was a teenager captaining the Dartford Grammar School rugby team at Founders Day. This was the first time he had served as Mayor and he was carrying out his duties with the same high level of enthusiasm then as he has done this time.

In tribute Gareth commented: “In my first year as the town’s MP I have been lucky enough to attend numerous civic functions with Pat and it is clear that he represents this Borough in the most incredible manner. It could almost be said that he was born to be Mayor. He and his wife, Doreen have selflessly served our town with enormous dignity and enthusiasm in the past twelve months. It seems that at each and every event they attend they make friends and enhance the reputation of Dartford. We really will miss their charms.

“Every town needs an elder statesman character to champion the interests of the area and Dartford is extremely lucky to have had Pat Coleman this year serving its interests..  

“The Mayoralty is a fantastic institution which brings enormous pleasure to many people. We are very fortunate to have people who are prepared to give up their time to serve the area with such distinction. This town is also very fortunate to have had Pat Coleman championing its cause over the past year.”

For picture click on the 'Gallery' section of website: From left to right - Former Dartford Grammar School head, Tony Smith, Pat Coleman and an 18 year-old Gareth Johnson who, as captain of the First XV, receives the winner’s cup on Founders Day in 1989.