THE new mayor of Newton Abbot is Cllr David Corney-Walker whose husband Tom, elected a town councillor earlier this month, will be his consort.
Taking the role of Deputy Mayor is Cllr Alex Hall who, at just 21-years-old, has made history as the youngest person to have held the position.
The appointments were made on May 17 at the annual meeting of Newton Abbot Town Council, the first gathering of the new authority since the May 4 local elections.
Having read and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, Cllr David Corney-Walker announced he would not be appointing a chaplain or holding a civic church service, preferring a civic concert instead.
He also informed members that the requirement to be ‘suited and booted’ for full council meetings would be replaced with a ‘smart casual’ dress code.
It is the second time Cllr David Corney-Walker has served as mayor, the last term being in 2008/9, and his charity for the year is the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.
Outgoing Mayor Cllr Carol Bunday urged members to get behind their new man at the helm saying: ‘I would like to wish my successor all the very best in the coming year, it does make all the difference knowing that you have the support of the full council.’
Cllr Bunday listed some of the ‘ups and downs’ of what had been her second term of office including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, her subsequent death and the Coronation of King Charles III.
Referring to the latter, she said: ‘Part of this protocol was for the leading citizen to read out the proclamation sent out by the Palace and this honour came to me as Mayor, and what an honour it was.
‘As in 1688 when William of Orange was pronounced King for the first time at our market cross, close to St Leonard’s Tower, I pronounced Prince Charles as our new King Charles III, at the same place.’
Cllr Bunday also celebrated the formal opening of Newton’s Place earlier this year, on the same day she had given the Freedom of Newton Abbot to the crew of HMS Triumph.
She criticised those who had challenged the value of the £2.5 million museum and community hub project, saying the Town Council had gone ‘above and beyond’ what residents had asked for.
‘Look around you at what we have achieved,’ she said. ‘Make your own minds up as to whether you think we were right or wrong.’
Also appointed on the day as Mayor’s Cadet was 14-year-old Adam Poel from Newton Abbot, a Teign School student who serves with 1322 Squadron Air Cadets.
Mum Shona Brett said: ‘I’m very proud of him.’