With the mayor 10 months into his 12 month term of office, you might be forgiven for thinking Councillor Richard Hobbs and his wife Pat have begun to flag a little,

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

But then you would be wrong.

For he was at his heartiest and most welcome as he chatted to other civic leaders – many who have become friends during both his and their stint as mayor or local authority chairmen – at the City of Ely civic ball.

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

In their droves they lined up to be greeted, and personally welcomed, by the mayor and his wife during a gala evening at The Maltings. It is the mayor’s fourth time as holder of the office.

Once guests sat down to sumptuous meal, there was plenty of both laugh about – and to reflect upon – as Ely and Cambridgeshire undergo massive change.

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Devolution has partly been responsible but for one evening that was forgotten as guests enjoyed dinner and took part in fund raising for Pos+Ability, a charity providing chair-based exercise and personal fitness for stroke survivors and people living with long-term neurological conditions.

He charity benefited by around £2,000.

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)

Cambs Times: Mayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike RouseMayor Richard Hobbs and his wife entertained civic guests and friends and supporters to the annual City of Ely civic ball at The Maltings .PHOTO: Mike Rouse (Image: Archant)