Local Lady makes it to Lord Mayor

Manchester is to welcome a new Lord Mayor, Councillor Mavis Smitheman, who will take office on Wednesday 14 May.

Councillor Smitheman was born and raised in Newton Heath where she has lived for most of her life. Having previously been employed by Manchester City Council in the former City Architects department, her desire to help people and work pro-actively for change encouraged her to stand as councillor in her local area, where she served for four years 1998 - 2000. She is currently ward councillor for Ardwick but has also held the positions of Assistant Executive Member for Housing, Deputy Whip and subsequently Chief Whip, when she was elected to Deputy Lord Mayor in 2007.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Mavis Smitheman said: "I am truly honoured to have been elected as Lord Mayor. I've been on a long journey since I was employed by Manchester City Council and could never have imagined that I would go on to be chosen for this prestigious role."

During her year in office, Councillor Smitheman's focus will be centred on older people. As a grandmother herself, Councillor Smitheman will be campaigning for older people to be recognised and valued for their tremendous contribution to society and is passionate that they feel safe and secure within local communities and their own environment.

Councillor Smitheman said: "I am in the fortunate position of being able to represent and give a voice to older people in Manchester and will work hard to ensure their needs are recognised and met."

As mother to Diane, Andrew and Jonathon, Councillor Smitheman is also proud grandmother to ten grandchildren and three great-grand children.

She said: "I am blessed with a wonderful family and they are certainly an inspiration when it comes to working for a positive difference within the city."

With time split between official duties and a busy home-life, Councillor Smitheman gets few moments to herself but does enjoy going to the gym when she has chance. A self-confessed thrill-seeker, she has enjoyed skydiving in the past but has now traded this for the more leisurely pursuit of curling up with a good book.

Councillor Smitheman's Lady Mayoress is her lifelong friend, Irene Etchells. Irene works as a dental nurse and is Practise Manager at a city centre dental surgery. She is extremely active in her local community and was, for many years, involved with a carers group for disabled people and with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers. She has been married to husband Tony for 37 years and they have one daughter, Clair.

Media contact:

Claire Keegan, tel: 0161 234 4014.