NEIL Forbes has spoken of his honour at being elected Knutsford’s new mayor.

Clr Forbes was formally appointed to new position of mayor at the annual meeting of the town council at Jubilee Hall on May 12.

The 54-year-old, a town councillor for Over Ward, will be supported in the role by Clr Tony Dean who has been named deputy mayor.

Clr Forbes’ wife Jacquelyn will be mayoress for the year.

Clr Forbes thanked his peers for electing him and said it was a privilege to be Knutsford’s First Citizen.

He added: “I hope I live up to your trust and expectations as expressed in our ‘Civic Protocol’ from which I note with a little trepidation I should ‘seek to use my influence...to stimulate community pride, encourage business and promote the voluntary sector.”

Clr Forbes, who is originally from Harrow, moved to Knutsford 23 years ago. In his first mayoral speech, he gave a special mention to his late friend and former neighbour John Eden, who he said he was ‘indebted to’ for introducing him to local government and to the person who was to become his wife – Jacquelyn.

“John was a larger than life character and a true family man. He encouraged me to go to council meetings to see what was going on,” he told the Guardian.

During his year in office, Clr Forbes will raise money Knutsford GROW and St John’s Wood Lunch Club.

He said: “I’ve been working in the third sector for the past nine years during which it has become clear to me that older people’s charities are the poor relations - especially small local ones - having no tear jerking posters and adverts to tug at our heart strings, perhaps, because let’s face it, if we are lucky we will live to a ripe old age but don’t want to think about it too much.

“Now I’d be the first to agree I’m no poster boy but perhaps you can help-me-help by supporting all the events you can and encouraging others to do the same.”

Clr Forbes said he ‘aims to hit the ground running’ when it comes to fundraising and plans to publish a schedule of unique and innovative events for the year by the end of the month.

“So watch out for updates and announcements and, if you want to be ‘in with the in-crowd’ and get the fastest news by email for ‘hot-ticket’ items, please send my PA Lisa your email address to be added to the distribution list,” he added.

To be the first to hear about the upcoming mayoral events, email lisa.benskin@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk