News / media

Enham Kidnaps the Mayor of Test Valley!

26 July 2010

Andover Town Centre was in shock on Thursday 15th July as it appeared that the Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Chris Lynn, was being abducted from the Chantry Centre having just finished an official engagement there and then taken away in a wheelchair.

The team of perpetrators headed by Liz Cosgrove, Community Fundraiser for disability charity Enham, were all blowing whistles and ringing bells as they surrounded him and took him to the Enham Tent in the High Street, in full view of the astounded market traders.  There, the team put him in a bamboo jail to hold him prisoner!

In order for the Mayor to be released, he had to endure making phone calls to various businesses and individuals to get them to sign up to doing a fundraising event for Enham – having a target of at least 10 over the rest of his Mayoral year.

The Mayor, who was looked after well and given a "Dick Whittington" style lunch (wrapped in a large handkerchief and placed on a stick), provided by Enham's Charity Shop Cafe, said: "It was most inconvenient, I was just in the middle of an official engagement at the Body Shop in the Chantry Centre when I was grabbed, stuffed in a wheelchair and placed in a cell.”

After being held for 4 hours, at 2pm  Firefighters from Andover Fire Station arrived with sirens blazing and set him free, whilst Liz Cosgrove was being arrested by PSCO Heidi Hymers and taken away in a police car.*

Joking aside, this truly was a hilarious and extremely successful day.  The Mayor and Mayoress were great sports and although the Mayor's target was to get 10 events signed up, he actually managed 32!

The Mayor commented: "It's been a fantastic day and believe it or not, I've really enjoyed myself! I hope that I will have encouraged enough people to raise money for Enham – a local charity that helps over 3,000 disabled people each year to have a better quality of life."  Upon being asked how people reacted to him saying on the phone:  "Hi, I'm the Mayor and I've been kidnapped," he replied "Amazingly, people did in fact take me seriously and didn't think I was a prank caller!"

Liz Cosgrove also said “ On behalf of Enham I would also like to thank everyone  involved: My Enham colleagues for pulling off such an excellent coup, PSCO Heidi Hymers and the Andover Fire Brigade for going beyond their calls of duty, Andover Sound for broadcasting the “breaking news” on air, the Body Shop for letting us steal the Mayor away from their shop, Andover shoppers who generously put money in our collection tins, and of course last but not least,  His Worshipful  The Mayor Councillor Chris Lynn and his wife Frances, who were absolute troopers.” She added: ”Thank you also to those companies who have signed up to hold an event to raise money for Enham – we will be in touch.  They needn’t worry about being kidnapped though if they don’t comply!”                               

* Please note that both the Police and Fire Departments are happy to attend such events as these. It is part of their remit to provide community support, as long as no genuine emergency situations are requiring their assistance.

Photo Top Left: The  “distraught” Mayoress hands a drink over the Mayor during his imprisonment.

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