The new ceremonial mayor for Salford was greeted with rapturous applause after she took office for the first time. Councillor Ann-Marie Humphreys was sworn in at Salford Civic Centre council chambers on May 18 in front of her friends and family.
The incoming ceremonial mayor for 2022/2023 was proposed by her friend and fellow councillor Heather Fletcher. She described her as a “kind, caring, thoughtful and warm person with a very bright personality”.
“I think she is going to make an excellent ceremonial mayor of Salford and I am sure she will be an outstanding representative of our city in the coming year,” Coun Fletcher said.
After thanking her family, colleagues, friends, all those invited guests and the outgoing ceremonial mayor John Mullen, the new ceremonial mayor said: “I am only sorry that the only absent people from my family today are my departed late parents Lucy and Jim. I know they would have been really happy and proud to see their only daughter inducted as the ceremonial mayor of the city they loved.
“I do know that they are here with me in spirit, along with my late brother Bernard. I have been a councillor for many years in this great city of Salford and the time has absolutely flown by despite the last couple of years being stressful with the pandemic.
“I have been so proud to have served on this council that has been steadfast in stepping up to the plate to help all those in need. It has always been a privilege to serve as an elected member and I do hope I do this role justice.
“I want to be an enthusiastic advocate and most importantly raise a lot of money for mayoral charities. Who in these tough times need these resources more than ever.
“I am only the 10th female mayor in 178 years in Salford. I do hope this will change dramatically over the next 178 years as more women come into politics and we start to reflect that we do represent half the population.
“It is great to see so many women playing an active part in politics today. Salford is a talented city.
“Our people are the very embodiment of kindness and I really do believe that our best years are before us. The motto on this crest on the wall reads salus populi suprema lex, “the welfare of the people is the highest law".
“Long may this remain so in the city. I look forward to taking my part in that as ceremonial mayor.”
The outgoing ceremonial mayor John Mullen was congratulated on his tenure where he raised £36,000. The Andrew Cooke Music Award Trust and Memorial Fund, The Salfordian Trust which runs the Salfordian hotel and Salford Children's Holiday Camp have all received just over £12,000 each.
After receiving warm words from his colleagues, Coun Mullen said: “There are some that think the time of the ceremonial mayor is outdated. I thought differently about this particular role.
“I saw this as a service to the public. I set about a meeting and told officials I was so proud of our city full of opportunity. I took the same approach when meeting businesses outside the city.
“My favourite thing was meeting all these volunteers that were hidden in plain sight. They were ordinary people doing such wonderful things.
“They didn’t want recognition, they did it because they wanted to. I thanked them on behalf of this city and I was proud to do it.
“They were doing Herculean things for our city.
“I have to give a massive thanks to the Salford residents for their support of my charity, the officers, my team and my wife. Without her [my wife] it couldn't all be possible.”
