WHEN his time is up, and the robes and chains are handed over, Oxford’s Lord Mayor Colin Cook looks forward to nothing more than getting his hands dirty and cracking on with some DIY.

The councillor, keen gardener, cyclist enthusiast and science technician spoke to the Oxford Times about his year in office as he prepares to step down from his role as mayor in May, and hand over the reins to Craig Simmons.

He said: “There is an interesting spectrum of Lord Mayors.

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“There are some who would love to carry on for the rest of their days as Lord Mayor, and others who would never do it again.

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“I have enjoyed it, but I am looking forward to getting my life back and also not dressing up.

“I am ready to crack on with the gardening and get back into DIY and the shed.”

Mr Cook is something of an honorary Oxford local.

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He moved here as a student nearly 40 years ago, in 1982, to study biochemistry at Herford College – home of the city’s most picturesque spot the 'Bridge of Sighs'.

It was then that he first volunteered for Oxford Nightlife – one of two organisations he chose to work with this year to raise some awareness about mental health needs in the city, the other being Oxford Samaritans.

After graduating he did a brief stint in Cambridge, to do a PGCE teacher training course, but returned to the city to work in Oxford University’s Department of Physiology.

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In 2002 he bagged the job as the chief technician of the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre at the university.

But it was 20 years ago, in 1999, that Mr Cook initially became the city councillor for West Ward.

Now – after boundary changes – representing the Jericho and Osney Ward, the Mayor said that the best thing about being a councillor was the people one meets.

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He said: “It’s been very enjoyable, great fun and I’ve met a lot of people.

“That’s the great advantage of being the Lord Mayor – that you get to meet people from all over the city, not just the people from your ward, as you were.

“It’s been good from that point of view.”

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He went on: “For me one of the highlights was the university Encaenia ceremony where they honour lots of people but also academics who may not have a high recognition otherwise.

“I met this chap called Robert Putnam who had done a lot of work on Obama, Clinton and Gordon Brown. It was really good to meet him and have a chat about his work as a political social scientist, especially when everybody is gathering around the more well-known people.”

But what was the best event he attended this year?

“The trick is when people ask you what the best even you have been to is, you have to say the one you’re currently at,” he joked.

“So I have to say the highlight of my year is a profile interview with the Oxford Times…”

He added that even when he expected an event was going to be awful it usually turned out to be ‘not-so-bad’.

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He said: “Every event has actually been great, even when you really think it isn’t going to be – it turns out to be better than you thought it would be – there is always somebody interesting to talk to.

“I have learnt that when people say they don’t want or need a speech from you, they do, so being able to answer and come out with one on the spot is always an advantage.

“You do meet the full spectrum of people from royals and people like that to ordinary members of the community.

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“It has been great meeting all the great and the good, and all the volunteers who work to made Oxford keep ticking.”

The perks of the job included some locally-distilled tipples he was invited to sample, but those were not his favourite.

He explained: “The best present has to be the troll that I won at St Giles Fair, which is just a disgusting pink and blue thing, like a cuddly toy – it came from skill and some balls.

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“I actually think I had to knock down about three cans in the end.

“But I’ve also been gifted some wonderful bottles of gin – you do get some amazing things.

"I was given a really amazing package of tea wrapped up – it’s hard to explain, it’s really more of a visual treat.”

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Passing over some top tips to Green Party councillor Craig Simmons, who will fill his boots on May 13, Mr Cook said: “I would say the first thing is to always be prepared to say something to an audience even though you haven’t actually been asked to speak beforehand.

“Then, try and get around the people at events, not just the people you have been assigned to, so to say, like the organisers – meet the people who are doing stuff and making it tick – also, turn up on time.

“Another thing just accept the first thing you’re invited to.

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"There has been a thing when Lord Mayors in the past have had clashes and accepted the invitation for something, but then something better comes along, so, I just made a real point of accepting the first invitation.

“And, if other things come up then there is always the deputy or sheriff.”

It is believed that the Lord Mayor usually does about 300 events over the year – from Royal visits and leading the city’s annual Remembrance Sunday service to small community group meetings and charity events.

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But to keep it all running smoothly, Mr Cook admitted he was never one-man-band.

He said: “I am going to miss the company of the officers who have all been really good fun and have really looked after me.

“My greatest thanks would go to them and those who have done all the background organising.”