A councillor with 40 years experience is to be the new mayor of Ellesmere Port – for the third time.
Cllr Brian Jones, who represents Whitby ward, will take up his office on Wednesday, May 21 after his mayor-making ceremony.
He was mayor of Ellesmere Port and Neston in 1989/90 and 2004/5.
Born in Liverpool, Cllr Jones trained at a firm of electrical and mechanical engineers after leaving school.
He qualified as an engineer officer with the Merchant Navy and then went on active service in Malaysia for the British Army, attached to the Gurkhas.
On his return he worked for Vauxhall Motors and then H H Robertsons for 28 years.
He is a founder member and past chairman of the Crossroads charity.
With Ellesmere Port and Neston Council he served as chairman of the licensing and leisure services committees.
Cllr Jones was also a county councillor for eight years and was made an honorary alderman.
He is now a bank nurse for the NHS and covers five hospitals.
Married to Joan he has two grown- up sons and three grandsons.
Cllr Jones said: “I am really looking forward to becoming mayor of our great town.
“My inauguration includes songs from Brookside Primary and Whitby High Schools as they did when I was mayor in 1989 and 2004.
“During my year in office I plan to visit as many schools as possible, especially at Christmas for the carol concerts.
“And of course as the mayor of Ellesmere Port I will greatly enjoy attending a wide range of engagements and meeting a wide range of people as the civic figurehead for the town.”
Cllr Jones’s charities for the year are Parkinson’s UK, Girl Guiding Ellesmere Port and the British Heart Foundation.
The deputy mayor is Cllr Lynn Clare (Ellesmere Port Town), who was born and bred in the ward she represents.
She was mayoress herself in 2012/13 when Cllr Pat Merrick (Rossmore) was mayor.
Cllr Clare joined the Royal Navy at 17, married and served in the Far East until 1972.
She has five children and three grand children.
Cllr Clare worked for an MP for four years and in 1984 she began working as a volunteer for the charity Parents Against Drug Abuse, a telephone helpline for parents and families of drug or alcohol users.
She rose to the post of chief executive officer and was made an MBE for her work in 2004.
After the charity ceased, Cllr Clare won an Ellesmere Port seat on the new Cheshire West and Chester Council but did not stand for re-election in 2011.
However, in October 2011 she won the by-election for her present ward, following the death of well known councillor Derek Bateman.
Cllr Clare said: “I am really looking forward to helping Cllr Jones as much as I can over the next 12 months and meeting as many people as possible.”
People are invited to the mayor- making ceremony to be held at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on May 21.
They should arrive from 6.45pm to be seated by 7pm.
Afterwards there will be refreshments.
Those wishing to attend should call the civic office on 01244 977700.
