ON behalf of Brighton Housing Trust (BHT), our First Base Day Centre and, most of all, the men and women who use our services, may I thank former Mayor, Brian Fitch, for selecting BHT as one of his charities during his year as Mayor. (‘Parting gift for charities who get over £47k from ex-mayor’, July 23).

It is only the second time that BHT has been one of the Mayor’s charities. The first time was in the 1990s when Gill Sweeting was Mayor.

The year as one of the Mayor’s charities, along with the Argus Appeal and the Martlets Hospice, has been great fun, not least because of the unique, entertaining, and extraordinary contribution of the then Mayoress, Norah Fitch.

What is more, I understand that the £47,500 raised is the second largest amount ever raised, topped only in a year when a very large one-off donation was made.

The successful year is down to the team work of Brian and Norah Fitch. I thank them and wish them well in their retirement.

Andy Winter, Chief Executive, Brighton Housing Trust