THE NEW Mayors of Bridport and Lyme Regis have been officially appointed in this year’s mayor-making ceremonies.

In Bridport, the mayor-making evening on June 4 confirmed the appointment of Mayor Cllr Sandra Brown, as well as Deputy Mayor Cllr Geoffrey Ackerman and Leader of the Council Cllr Sarah Williams.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Maggie Ray gave a speech at the ceremony, highlighting the visit of The Rifles exercising their right to the Freedom of the Town.

Cllr Brown thanked Bridport Town Council and said she looked forward to ‘beating the bounds’ of the parish in the spring.

She said: “I am very much looking forward to my year of office. I think the new council will all work well together and there are a lot of exciting things to look forward to, starting with the Food Festival and the visit of our friends from Bridport’s twin town, St Vaast La Hougue, for the forthcoming weekend.”

Cllr Brown also paid tribute to the work of Kevin Eden, the former lengsthman for Bridport and the surrounding parishes, and thanked outgoing town crier Jane Silver-Corren. for her support of the community.

The town council’s clerical officer Jill Cox was presented with a bouquet by the Mayor to mark her retirement at the end of June, and she was thanked for her many years of loyal service.

Cllr Brown's mayoral charities for the year will be the Richard Ely Trust for Young Musicians and the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

The mayor’s civic service will take place on July 26.

In Lyme Regis, Mayor Cllr Owen Lovell was elected to the post in a ceremony on June 3, taking over the post from former councillor Sally Holman.

Cllr Lovell said:”We think we had a very good night, about 80 or 90 people were there and I would like to thank all those people who came.”

Asked what his priorities were for the coming year in the role, Cllr Lovell said: “I have got particular interests in the play area, skatepark and Strawberry Fields.

“We are hoping we are moving forward with one now, and are hoping to unlock the small problem with WDDC with the skatepark.I am optimistic about taking Strawberry Fields forward in some way. - I am of the same view as other councillors with that.”