STRIKING up an unlikely friendship with Newport rap group Goldie Lookin’ Chain and meeting Prince Charles are among the highlights of Cllr Bill Langsford’s mayoral year.

The Malpas ward councillor is also pleased to have raised around £30,000 for cancer charity Tenovus – one he chose to mark him beating the disease 12 years ago.

Cllr Langsford and his wife and mayoress Sue, have fond memories of their busy 12 months, which saw them attend a total of 774 events.

These range from the Ryder Cup and visits to local primary schools, to welcoming foreign visitors and attending the Newport Festival 2010.

Over the past year they have hosted a number of fundraising events, including a casino night at Tredegar House and a golf tournament, which may now become an annual event.

The couple also count marching through the city with Newport school children for the Giants puppet parade last summer, meeting Princess Anne and visiting Newport’s twinned town of Heidenheim in Germany as some of their favourite moments. But what Cllr Langsford, 68, has enjoyed most is meeting and talking to the ordinary people of Newport, especially children, many of whom often mistake his chains for the royal decoration of a king. He said: “It’s been such a privilege to represent the council at all these fantastic events.”

Mrs Langsford, 62, who has fitted her role around having a full-time job as a personal assistant with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, added: “It’s just been a fabulous year, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

As his mayoral role comes to an end next week Cllr Langsford joked he will miss not having to worry about parking but will not miss his most difficult job of keeping 49 councillors in order during council meetings.