New mayor man ‘of great honesty’

A NEW Mayor of Peterborough was officially elected at Town Hall last night.

Paston councillor George Simons is the latest to don the ceremonial robes as he took over the office from Cllr Paula Thacker.

The 78-year-old born and bred Peterborian was re-elected to the council in 2010, having previously represented Stanground for eight years between 1988 and 1996.

Nominating him, council leader Marco Cereste said: “He is a true Peterborian, born in New England and has lived in the city his entire life.”

Seconding the nomination, Cllr Charles Swift said: “I have known him for a number of years and he is a man of great honesty and integrity with his feet firmly on the ground.”

Cllr Simons will carry out his mayoral duties accompanied by his wife Sylvia, who will be the city mayoress, while the deputy mayor taking over from Lucia Serluca is Cllr June Stokes.

The confirmation of both Cllrs Simons and Stokes was met by a round of applause by a full council chamber.

Prior to the election of mayor, all councillors joined in a moment’s silence to Doris Marchant, the former mayoress of Peterborough who sadly died earlier this week.

Thanking Cllr Thacker for her tenure as mayor, the council’s deputy leader Matthew Lee said: “In the past 12 months she has attended in the region of 1,000 events.

“I’m sure you all thank her for the professionalism, enthusiasm and ENNEW ergy she displayed.”