The last Weymouth and Portland borough mayor, Gill Taylor, has wrapped up her year with the presentation of badges, a bouquet and a community award.

She and partner Trefor Morgan were also presented with their badges to mark the final term of duty – which ended two months early when the borough council disappeared at the end of March.

Around £2,500 raised by the mayor’s appeal was presented, at that time, to the Lantern Trust and the Dorset Domestic Abuse group.

Much of the money came in from the sale of ‘Mayor’s Bears’ which were donated by the “Let’s Make It’ group.

“People sent me pictures of the bears in various places, around the world, with one at Harry and Meghan’s wedding. It was really remarkable” she said.

Cllr Taylor praised volunteers locally who kept organisations running, describing many of them as ‘hidden heroes.”

She said the highlight of her year had been Remembrance Sunday when the town was packed and figures by Danny Boyle created in the sand on the beach.

“It was a very moving occasion. The roads had been closed and there was no traffic. We spent some time in the tent which had been set up which was silent apart from people reading poetry or talking about their relatives. It was very moving,” she said, with the day ending at the beacon lighting at the Nothe.

“We were so proud to have been involved, it was a very memorable day,” said Cllr Taylor.

She presented a badge to her mayor’s chaplain, Tom Coopey, for his work during the year including the civic service and the remembrance service.

Mayor’s secretary Helen Legg received a bouquet for her work. Cllr Taylor said she would not have been able to carry out the role without Helen’s organisational skills, with the mayor often attending half a dozen events each week.

The Ken Isaacs Rose Bowl, for the organisation which impressed the most, was shared between the Refresh group made up of local churches and other groups, who organised this year’s night shelter during the winter months and the Veterans Hub at Wyke Regis.

The bowl, which was donated in memory of former mayor’s chauffeur and macebearer Ken Isaacs, who died aged 60 in 2007 after almost 40 years council service, will be shared between the two organisations. It was received by Cherry Clarke from Refresh.