New mayor to be sworn

Outgoing Mayor Clr Jim Dodds (second left) and Mayoress Carol Dodds (left) will make way for incoming Mayor Clr Christine Iredale and her husband consort Robert Iredale KIRKLEES will have a new mayor from May 24 when Clr Christine Iredale and her deputy mayor Clr Gwen Lowe are sworn in at a mayormaking ceremony at Huddersfield Town Hall.

Her charities will be Dementia UK and The Alzheimer’s Society.

The present Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Jim Dodds, will step down from the role with the knowledge of a job well done.

Over the last 12 months, Clr Dodds with his wife Carol have attended more than 260 engagements and, for his charity the Royal British Legion, raised in the region of £60,000.

His duties have been eclectic, ranging from the Queen’s birthday salute in York to competing in a cricket team against the Emmerdale XI.

He and the Mayoress have judged school painting competitions, opened the Food and Drink Festival, taken part in the Jamaican Independence Day celebrations and met the Duke of York when he visited the University of Huddersfield’s new building.

And they have enjoyed lots of tea and cake.

He said: “It has been both a privilege and an honour to undertake the role.

“I would like to thank everyone who has invited us to attend their events, or supported my charity.

“Their efforts really appreciated.”