OUTGOING mayor Jonathan Simpson was close to tears as he was thanked by Amy Winehouse's parents after raising more than £70,000 for the Foundation set up in her name.

The singer's parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, gave him a framed pair of Amy's ballet pumps as his second stint as Camden's mayor came to an end on Wednesday evening.

He handed the mayoral chain to fellow Labour councillor Lazzaro Pietragnoli after a series of fund-raisers for the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which brings addiction awareness training to thousands of children and young people. The figure is the largest ever raised by a councillor in a single mayoral year at the Town Hall.

The ballet pumps presented to Cllr Simpson

Cllr Simpson told the annual mayor-making ceremony: "I need to pay tribute to someone who isn't here – and that's Amy. If Amy was watching us now, she'd probably have a slight sneer in her face and say 'what on earth are you doing' in that way that Mitch and Janis and Richard will remember. But she would, I think, be hugely, hugely proud of the borough that she loved. The Queen of Camden's legacy, as I like to call her, is going to live on for many, many years and it's been a privilege supporting it."

In a tribute to his work, Labour Party colleague Councillor Angela Mason said: "I used to live in Camden Square and I witnessed the outpouring of grief when Amy died. I think it's a remarkable achievement that the Foundation, with your support, has now created a new legacy for thousands of children and young people in the borough, and now across the country."

Cllr Mason pays tribute to her Labour colleague

Ms Winehouse died at her home in Camden Town aged 27 in 2011 after being celebrated across the world for her albums, Frank and Back To Black.

The Amy Winehouse Foundation said further thanks to the outgoing Mayor in a video message played to the chamber. In the film, Mitch Winehouse jokingly asks when Cllr Simpson will be mayor for a third time. The charity's co-ordinator Rowan Carnihan said: "He has given his all – and some to his work with the Foundation. We've been so lucky to have him."

The Amy Winehouse Foundation say thank you to Jonathan Simpson. Video by Alex Curtis/Johnny Favourite.

Cllr Simpson said: "At times we were too tired and too emotional to speak and we sat in venues silently weeping in a corner because we were so exhausted – but we really have achieved everything." He said that 3,000 young people in Camden had received drug and alcohol education through the AWF and that "for some, it has already changed their lives." Cllr Simpson added: "The work will save lives."

Jonathan Simpson's farewell speech as Mayor