[03
MAY 00] COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL NEWS
Trumpets To Herald New Lord Mayor
BY ANTONY HOPKER
Pageantry
through the streets of Coventry and a fanfare of trumpets will mark
the end of Cllr Joan Wright’s year in office as Lord Mayor later
this month.
The
ceremony is being held to coincide with the annual meeting of Coventry
City Council. The meeting is expected to confirm Cllr Sheila Collins
as the new Lord Mayor and Cllr Dave Chater as her deputy for the year.
People
living in the city will be able to watch the spectacle, which is
designed to emphasise the importance of the role of Lord Mayor.
Coventry
is one of only 24 cities to have a Lord Mayor. The charter was granted
in 1953.
The
ceremony will begin at 10.45am when Cllr Wright, her consort Cllr
Gordon Wright and other dignitaries will be led by the Mace and Sword
bearers from the Council House into the courtyard of St Mary’s Hall.
As
they leave the doors will be closed behind them.
At
the same time a second robed procession, headed by the leader of the
council, will take the Deputy Lord Mayor, Chief Executive and Town
Clerk, Honorary Recorder and members of the council to the doors of St
Mary’s Hall.
There
the leader will hammer on the door and ask the Lord Mayor’s
permission to admit the procession for the annual meeting of the city
council.
Former
Lord Mayors, co-opted members of the council and special guests are
invited to the meeting, the first of the civic year, which formally
welcomes the new councillors and sets the calendar of meetings.
At
the end of the meeting, at around 12pm, the assembly will process from
St Mary’s Hall through Broadgate and High Street to the Council
House for a reception.
Council
leader John Fletcher said:
“Coventry
should be showing its pride in having a Lord Mayor. The Lord mayor is
Coventry’s first citizen and represents the city and its people on a
world stage.
“I
hope people will turn out to watch on 18 May and recognise that being
Lord Mayor is not just an honour, it is a huge responsibility and
worthy of everyone’s support.”
SEE: [26 APR 00] SINGLE
STATUS TO BE RECONSIDERED
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