Carlisle Mayor appointed
(Date of issue: Monday, 24 May 2010)
Carlisle City Councillor Mary Styth has been appointed
Carlisle’s first citizen for the Municipal year 2010/2011.
Councillor Styth has taken on the Mayoral role from Cllr William
Graham. Sworn in at today’s Mayor Making Ceremony (Monday, 24 May)
in the City Council Chamber, the Labour Member for Belle Vue
recited the ancient Mayoral Oath giving her allegiance to the city
and its citizens.
A long-standing Member, Councillor Styth has represented
Carlisle, as a City and County Councillor. She first became a City
Councillor (formerly known as the City and County Borough of
Carlisle) in 1971 and now represents Belle Vue ward.
The Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Mary Styth, said:
“I feel deeply honoured that the Council has
appointed me as Mayor of this great City. A City and its people I
love dearly. I have spent a lifetime working with some wonderful
people and organisations. I would not have been successful without
the help of the local authority staff from both the City and County
Councils, whose work often goes unnoticed. My thanks go to those
staff, the people who have supported me, and particularly my
husband Jim. I will continue to strive in my year of office to
support the people of Carlisle at every level.”
Councillor Barry Earp was sworn in as the Deputy Mayor and
Councillor Mike Mitchelson was also confirmed as the Leader of the
Council.
Cllr Mary Styth – Background Information
- Since joining the Labour Party in the 1950s Cllr Styth has
fought hard as a tough trade unionist and politician to ensure fair
play. As leader of the Civil and Public Service Association she was
elected the only woman chairman of the Carlisle and District Trades
Council in 1982, an appointment which made her the City’s leading
trade unionist.
- Having served on the County Council for many years as Chair of
Social Services and Secondary and Special Education, she now
represents Belle Vue Ward for Carlisle City Council. Regeneration
of the area has been greatly assisted by working with local
charities, setting up Community Groups, Benefit Advice Workers,
Drop-in Centre and Activities for the community.
- She is currently working with the Living Well Trust, (a local
charity) to create a centre for the community from derelict
housing. Using councillors’ local finance, as start up money, she
has approached a number of organisations within the public and
private sector to find the extra finance needed to create
“Community House”. The main theme of Community House is to deliver
outreach education for teenagers from across the City who are
outside main stream education. In addition family activities will
take place in the building.
- Mary has been married to Jim for 56 years and has three
children and five grandchildren.