Exeter's next Lord Mayor is announced
The Exeter Daily can reveal that the next Lord Mayor of Exeter will be Labour councillor for Polsloe, Rachel Lyons. Councillor Lyons will take over from present incumbent, Councillor Rob Newby in May.
Ms Lyons, a previous Deputy Lord Mayor, was re-elected to the Polsloe seat in 2012 having previously held the seat for two terms of office between 2000 and 2008. Her deputy will be Labour councillor Rob Hannaford who serves as both city councillor for St. Thomas and county councillor for Exwick/St. Thomas and is the present City Council portfolio holder for Housing and Community Involvement. Councillor Hannaford will succeed Councillor Percy Prowse as Deputy Lord Mayor.
The Lord Mayor is elected each year from among the 40 Exeter City Councillors and is supported by a Deputy Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor is non-political during their tenure but the Deputy may continue to remain politically active. They will attend more than 600 events and functions during the year and raise money for their chosen charity.
Exeter City Council say that the Mayor carries out the following:
- Promotes the city through its business and community activities
- Supports local charities and community organisations by attending events
- ]Attends civic events
- Raise funds for their own chosen charity
According to Exeter City Council, "the earliest known Mayor of Exeter was William Durling in 1207-8. Until 2002, Exeter was the oldest 'Right Worshipful' Mayoralty in England and many ancient traditions and ceremonies are maintained. Now it holds the title Lord Mayor which was awarded as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Exeter was the only city chosen by the Lord Chancellor on behalf of Her Majesty, out of the 17 that entered. Councillor Granville Baldwin became the first Lord Mayor of Exeter on 1 May 2002 when Letters Patent were awarded to the city as part of the Queen's visit."
Councillor Lyons, a former nurse, lives in Polsloe with her daughter, granddaughter and grandson.
The Exeter Daily will bring news of the new Lord Mayor's chosen charity in due course.
