NEWBURY HAS A NEW MAYOR FOR 2023

Cllr Nigel Foot was elected as Mayor of Newbury for the municipal year 2023/24 at the Town Council’s annual Mayor Making ceremony on Sunday 14^th May 2023. Cllr Andy Moore was elected to support him in the role of Deputy Mayor.

The event was held in The Corn Exchange with over 250 guests in attendance. It was attended by members of the Council, local dignitaries, community organisations and their friends and families.

The Town Council, along with the Town Marshal and Macebearers, processed through the Market Place to the Corn Exchange to start the ceremony. Following the ceremony, a Civic Service was held at St Nicolas Church with refreshments in the Church Hall afterwards.

Outgoing Mayor, Cllr Gary Norman shared his highlights from his year as Mayor of Newbury and a long service award was given to Cllr Sue Farrant who was recognised for her 10 years of service as a Councillor including her role as Mayor of Newbury Town Council in the Year 2000.

Cllr Pam Lusby-Taylor and Cllr Vaughan Miller expressed their delight in proposing Cllr Nigel Foot as the Mayor of Newbury for the municipal year 2023/24.

The new Mayor announced that he was looking forward to the year ahead in office and that his chosen charity would be West Berkshire Homeless. After declaring his acceptance of office, Cllr Foot said, “I am honoured and humbled and will do my very best to do justice to this historic role.” Cllr Nigel Foot was invested by receiving the chain and badge of office. The Mayor also formally invested his wife, Cllr Sarah Slack, as his Mayoress.

Cllr Andy Moore was also invested as Deputy Mayor of Newbury, and he is looking forward to supporting the Mayor over the course of the year.

Musical accompaniment to the ceremony was provided by ‘Sing for Fun’, a group that makes community singing accessible to everyone, regardless of experience.

A Civic Service followed in the Corn Exchange lead by Revd. Will Hunter Smart who is also the Mayor’s newly appointed chaplain.