A hundred years after women first got the vote, Congleton Town Council has appointed three women to take lead civic roles in the town. Councillor Suzie Akers Smith was elected as the new Town Mayor, Cllr Sally-Ann Holland as the Deputy Mayor and Clara Jackson from the Congleton Air Cadets (230) Squadron as the Mayor’s Cadet. The dynamic trio are looking forward to serving Congleton in the year that is celebrating 700 years of Mayoralty.
Cllr Suzie Akers Smith was elected Mayor and Cllr Sally-Ann Holland elected Deputy Mayor in front of a packed audience at Congleton Town Hall at the Annual Town Council meeting on Thursday 17th May 2018. At the meeting, Cllr Akers Smith appointed her husband Mr Peter Akers Smith to be her consort to assist with the various civic functions and Clara Jackson, aged 14, as her cadet to assist at civic functions. The Deputy Mayor’s consort will be her husband David Holland.
Cllr Suzie Akers Smith said “I am really looking forward to my year as Mayor and meeting and working with the people of Congleton to help continue to make it the great place it is to live, work and visit. I moved to Congleton 17 years ago and it’s a town that I have grown to love. One of my main ambitions for the year is to encourage people to become more active, as it not only helps to provide a better quality of life, being physically active on a daily basis also makes you feel good!“
Each year the Mayor carries out a number of fund raising events, such as the annual Mayor’s Ball and the Sprint Triathlon; the funds raised through these events will go towards a charity chosen by the Mayor for that year. Cllr Akers Smith will be supporting local Congleton charities, her main two being Ruby’s Fund and the LOL Foundation.
At the Mayor Making ceremony, thanks were given to the retiring Mayor Cllr Charles Booth for all his work over the past year. Thanks were also given to his wife, Mayoress Mrs Aimee Booth and his cadet, ATC Cadet Joseph Krinks for their support. Cllr Booth spoke passionately about his spectacular year in office and how delighted he was to raise £7,500 for his charities, which support youth services and projects in Congleton, the three main charities were: Friends for Leisure, New Life Church and Visyon.
The new Mayor’s first engagement will be “It’s a Ruby Doo” for Ruby’s Fund at Stock at the Pavilion on Saturday 19th May 2018. To invite the Mayor for a visit or event, please contact the Civic Administrator- Linda Minshull on 01260 270350 opt 4 or email: lm@congletontowncouncil.co.uk
