Newbury Town Council elects its new mayor

Newbury has its new mayor for the year.

Nigel Foot was elected as mayor for the municipal year 2023/24 at Newbury Town Council’s annual mayor making ceremony on Sunday (May 14).

The Lib Dem councillor, who has seats on both the town council and West Berkshire Council, officially took over the role at the event in the Corn Exchange, which was attended by 250 guests made up of councillors, local dignitaries, community organisations, friends and family.

After declaring his acceptance of office, Mr Foot said: “I am honoured and humbled and will do my very best to do justice to this historic role.”

The ceremony began with the town council, along with the town marshal and macebearers, processing through the Market Place to the theatre.

During the ceremony, outgoing mayor Gary Norman shared his highlights from the past year and a long service award was given to councillor Sue Farrant who was recognised for her 10 years of service to the town council.

Councillors Pam Lusby-Taylor and Vaughan Miller expressed their delight in proposing Mr Foot as the new mayor.

Upon accepting the honour, Mr Foot announced that he was looking forward to the year ahead in office and that his chosen charity would be West Berkshire Homeless.

He was invested by receiving the chain and badge of office, and then the new mayor also formally invested his wife, councillor Sarah Slack, as his mayoress.

Councillor Andy Moore was elected as deputy mayor to support Mr Foot throughout the year and he was also invested during the ceremony.

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

A civic service followed in St Nicolas’ Church lead by Rev Will Hunter Smart who is also the mayor’s newly appointed chaplain.