Manchester welcomes new Lord Mayor

It has been a golden year for Councillor Harry Lyons, he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary in February and on Wednesday 18 May will don the chains of office and become Lord Mayor of Manchester.

The honour marks another achievement for Councillor Lyons, aged 74, who was elected to represent the Higher Blackley ward in 1996 as a local councillor.
 
Councillor Lyons was born in Greenheys, Manchester and attended St Margaret's Central High School in Whalley Range. After achieving qualifications in 10 subjects he left school at 15 to help support his family.
 
After completing his military service, in the Royal Army Pay Corps, he briefly worked as a salesman for various companies. In 1964 Councillor Lyons began his long career with the NSPCC with his first posting to Kirkby in Liverpool between 1966-67.
 
In December 1967 he returned to Manchester and continued his work for the NSPCC, as the Inspector for North Manchester until 1974. He then became the manager of a Student Training Unit in Fallowfield, after completing his qualifying course as a social worker in 1971.
 
In 1985 Councillor Lyons established and managed a team in Stockport dealing uniquely with the child sexual abuse issues in Stockport and Tameside. In 1987 he became a National Training Officer for the NSPCC, designing and piloting NVQ courses for Family Care staff in Northern England and Northern Ireland. Due to health reasons he took early retirement in 1990. 
 
The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Harry Lyons, said  "I have been proud to serve the people of Higher Blackley for over fifteen years and I am incredibly excited to have the privilege of representing all of Manchester as Lord Mayor.
 
"I am look forward to the opportunity to meet people from all the different backgrounds and traditions that make up our modern cosmopolitan city."
 
Since being elected to the council Councillor Lyons has served as chair of the Planning Committee and has served on the Licensing Committee and various scrutiny committees.
 
Away from his roles as a local councillor and Lord Mayor, Councillor Lyons is very much involved in local community life and is currently a governor at two schools. He is also a member of the management boards of the North Manchester Law Centre and Higher Blackley Community Association. In 2001 Councillor Lyons became a Justice of the Peace.
 
During his time in office Councillor Lyons will continue his commitment to supporting mothers and fathers caring for children on their own. In the 1970s Councillor Lyons was involved in establishing the first Refuge for Battered Wives in Manchester. He followed this by organising groups for unsupported mothers and their children in Collyhurst and later in Salford, whilst managing the Student Training Unit in Fallowfield     
 
Councillor Lyons is married to Maureen and they have two children Alison and Kevin.
 
Councillor Lyons' daughter Alison Cain, aged 47, will serve as his Lady Mayoress. Alison is married to Paeter Cain and works as a Team Support Officer for Greater Manchester Probation Service.