The new Lord Mayor of Chester is looking forward to a year of raising the profile of the city and raising money for her charities.

Councillor Angela Claydon took up the chain of office in a ceremony at Chester Town Hall on Thursday, May 19.

The theme for her civic year is women and her chosen charities for the next 12 months are the Countess of Chester Breast Care Trust Fund, Chester Women’s Aid and Chester and Ellesmere Port and Neston Special Olympics.

Her daughter, Sally Burgess, will be her Lady Mayoress.

Cllr Claydon said: “I feel very honoured and delighted to be chosen as Lord Mayor, and very proud.

“The people of Chester are proud of their history and future and, as their Lord Mayor, my aim is to represent the City of Chester and its residents and raise the city’s profile.

“I’m particularly looking forward to the opening of the new cultural centre, Storyhouse.”

She added: “I’m looking forward to meeting as many people as possible in my year and to give support to the unsung heroes who run charities and undertake voluntary work.”

Elected to Ellesmere Port Borough Council in 1996 and elected to represent the St Paul’s ward on Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2008, councillor Claydon said that although she is from Ellesmere Port she feels closely connected to Chester.

The mum-of-two and grandmother-of-three has a keen interest in researching family history and has discovered that her great-grandfather lived in Handbridge and her uncle was Sheriff of Chester in 1925.

Following the 2015 election councillor Claydon has been Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for housing.

She has served as Mayor of Ellesmere Port and Sheriff of Chester.

The new Sheriff of Chester, an office that dates back to 1121, is councillor Myles Hogg, who has served a local authority for 28 years.

The Lord Mayor of Chester councillor Angela Claydon (centre) with Sheriff of Chester councillor Myles Hogg and Deputy Lord Mayor councillor Razia Daniels

He was elected to Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council in 1987 and then Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2008.

He lives in Willaston with his wife Marilyn.

Councillor Hogg said: “It is a very great honour to serve as sheriff of this historic city and I’m very conscious of the history of this ancient office and the many distinguished previous office holders.

“I will do my utmost to repay the faith and trust placed in me.”

The new Deputy Lord Mayor is councillor Razia Daniels, who was elected to represent Handbridge and St Mary’s Ward on Chester City Council in 2006 then elected to represent The Overleigh ward of Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2008.

In 2011 she was elected to represent the Handbridge Park Ward of Cheshire West and Chester Council and re-elected to the ward in 2015.

She was born in Dodoma, Tanzania, East Africa and has lived in Chester since 1985 when she got married to Stephen.

Councillor Daniels said: “I am absolutely delighted to be the Deputy Lord Mayor of Chester, it is such a huge honour and privilege.

“I am really looking forward to supporting the Lord Mayor councillor Angela Claydon during her civic year in office and look forward meeting as many residents, businesses and community groups in our borough.”