Liberal Democrat Howard Hyman has been elected as mayor of Gloucester.
The Elmbridge ward councillor said it was an honour and privilege and intends to be a good ambassador for the city.
Cllr Hyman grew up in Manchester and moved to Nottingham in 1970 to take up post as a senior clerk in a local government office.
In his spare time there he worked on the turnstiles for Nottingham Forest and Notts County FC.
He is passionate about human rights in the past has been involved with Amnesty International and the National Council for Civil Liberties and Campaign for Homosexual Equality.
He has also worked in a management post in the district supplies department of the NHS and has also worked for London Underground where he was a union representative at both a local and a corporate level.
Since moving to Gloucester he has become the vice chairman of Gloucestershire Gay and Lesbian Community Group and represents them on the LGBT+ Partnership – an umbrella organisation.
Cllr Hyman said: “I am honoured and privileged to be mayor of this great city of Gloucester. I look forward to the civic and community events in celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee. I also look forward to the Tall Ships Festival which I am pleased is in my civic year.
“I look forward to meeting as many people as possible in their communities over the next 12 months. I shall support the arts, sport, business and all the other activities which make this city great.
“I intend to be a good ambassador for Gloucester and look forward to working alongside the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff during my civic year.”
His deputy for the year is Barnwood councillor and fellow Lib Dem Joanne Brown.
She too said she was delighted to be elected as sheriff and deputy mayor.
“I have lived in Gloucester for more than 30 years and have a great interest in Gloucester history, am a member of the Civic Trust and also a lifetime member of the Friends of Gloucester Cathedral. I look forward to supporting the Mayor of Gloucester,” she said.
Liberal Democrat group leader Jeremy Hilton (LD , Kingsholm and Wotton) said councillors are worthy civic office holders and have given excellent service since being elected to the council in 2016.
He said: “Howard Hyman also served on Hackney Council for 11 years and on the London Fire Authority as well. As a trade unionist he represented his members on employment issues. He has also campaigned hard over the years on matters related to civil liberties. I was honoured to be asked to propose him as the mayor of Gloucester.”
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter