MINEHEAD'S annual mayor-making ceremony passed off without a hitch on Wednesday night - despite fears that it could have been heading for a storm for a second year running. The town council's nine-strong ruling Tory group staged an emergency meeting in private less than two hours before the annual meeting was due to start. Up for discussion was deputy mayor-in-waiting Cllr Stephen Dear's concern - and that of some other councillors - about the tone and content of letters sent to Minehead Football Club following the council's controversial decision last week to impose a temporary ban on the sale of alcohol at the Irnham Road ground. But tempers were apparently calmed and by the time the annual meeting got underway Cllr Dear was ready to give his full support to the new mayor Cllr Ann Foxhuntley and accept the role of her deputy. Outgoing mayor Cllr Nick Messarra, who took two attempts to be 'crowned' last year after opposition councillors demonstrated their lack of support for him, thanked his colleagues for their high level of support during his term of office. "I did my best on your behalf for the people of Alcombe and Minehead - the best I could," said Cllr Messarra. "I wish the new mayor the best of luck and hope she will have your support as well. "My wish is for this council to be forward thinking for the benefit of the people of Alcombe and Minehead." Cllr Foxhuntley told councillors it was an honour for her to be elected as mayor. And she said she wanted to thank her predecessor, who had worked hard although sometimes controversially. "We have had some difficulties in the past year," Cllr Foxhuntley admitted. But she said she hoped personal and political differences could now be put aside. "My mother always used to say that you should try to leave the world a better place than when you came into it. "I hope that when I retire, Minehead will be a better place than when I was first elected to this council." Photo: Steve Guscott.