Wirral’s outgoing civic Mayor praised the “splendid madness” of Eurovision” as the new Mayor takes over for the next year.
Cllr Jerry Williams, who represented Bebington and now Upton, was elected as the new civic mayor, taking over from the previous Mayor Jeff Green with Cllr Cherry Povall as his deputy.
The Mayor’s role includes chairing full council meetings, representing the council at fundraising events, and carrying out official functions on behalf of the council. The election of a new Leader and Deputy Leader of the council, two political roles, will take place next week.
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Cllr Jeff Green will now take over the Conservative group on the council but in a speech reflected on his time as Mayor which saw the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizebeth II, her death, and the coronation of King Charles III. He said those events "demonstrated how much the Royal Family means to the residents of Wirral."
Cllr Green added: “Wirral is a very big society. I’ve seen first hand so many groups and volunteers far too many to name tonight across Wirral making a great effort to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of their fellow citizens.”
He said his “final reflection is of course what fun it is to be Mayor of Wirral.” He said this included meeting Prince William and Kate Middleton, welcoming Ukrainian refugees, and putting a first shovel in the ground with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram at the Wirral Waters Miller’s Quay development.
He finished by adding: “Of course the splendid madness that is and was Eurovision so it wasn’t all hard work and duty.”
In his speech afterwards, Mayor Williams said he wants to focus on smaller charities that will “propel Wirral and Mersyesid to new horizons” with his chosen charities being Autism Together, a Bromborough based charity and the Friends of Birkenhead Kennels, a stray dog charity.
He told the Liverpool ECHO: “Community politics has always been my key ethos in all my years on the council," adding: “I worked for disability charities for 20 years, I ran community operations so issues to do with disability are very near to my heart but also with the Kennels, it’s just how important pets are to people and families.
“I also want to concentrate on small charities because they do so much on the Wirral.”
Mayor Williams will also remain the council's Heritage Champion and said Wirral's history and culture was a key passion of his, particularly with Birkenhead Park’s current UNESCO World Heritage Bid and the recent Eurovision Song Contest.
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