Halewood Lib Dems are Mayor and Mayoress (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Halewood Lib Dems are Mayor and Mayoress

May 20, 2009 12:00 AM

The new Mayor and Mayoress of Knowsley have been officially welcomed into office.

Cllr Dave Smithson, from Halewood, was handed over the Chains of Office by Cllr Michael Foulkes, who has served as Mayor of Knowsley for the past year. The official welcome took place on Friday, during a special "Mayor Making" ceremony held at the Huyton Suite.

Cllr Smithson was first elected as a councillor in Knowsley in May 2000. Since then, he has done a lot of work for the borough, including serving on scrutiny committees and being a school governor. Since 2006 he has been the Chair of the Halewood Area Partnership Board and was elected to Halewood Town Council in 2003.

His wife Sarah, who will be Mayoress during her husband's term in office, is also a councillor in the Halewood area for both Knowsley Council and Halewood Town Council. Sarah has also served as a school governor and is a member of the board of trustees at St Mary's Day Care Centre in Halewood.

Cllr Smithson said "I am honoured to have been elected as Mayor. I am looking forward to meeting the people of Knowsley and getting involved in the local community. Cllr Foulkes has done a wonderful job over the past year, so it is a tough act to follow, but I am excited to serve the borough of Knowsley."

Cllr Smithson and his wife will be supporting two main charities this year. These are Listening Ear Merseyside, a community-based charity which provides a free, confidential counselling and support service; and Lyndale, a voluntary group and charity providing care and support to people affected by cancer and their families and friends. The Mayor and Mayoress will also be supporting other local charities in the area.