THE new mayor of Ellesmere Port says she will use her time in office to “reflect the goodness of the community”.

Councillor Lynn Clare, who was born and brought up in the Wolverham area of the town, was handed the mayoral chains from Cllr Brian Jones this week.

She is no stranger to the duties of office, having been mayoress of Ellesmere Port when Cllr Pat Merrick was mayor in 2012/13.

Her mayoress is Jenny Bateman, whose late husband Derek was a deputy leader, council leader, father of the council and leader of the Labour group on the former Cheshire County Council. He was also leader of the group during their time in opposition.

Cllr Clare said: “As I now stand as a councillor in Derek in Derek’s old ward, and he was so helpful to me in my early days of being a councillor, I thought it was time that Jenny got the chance to be mayoress.

“I feel deeply honoured to be mayor of my home town.

“I want this Mayoralty to reflect the goodness of our community in Ellesmere Port and therefore charitable giving – whilst having some fun – will be central to my term in this great office.

“I have thought long and hard to decide the charity for which I .want to raise funds.

“Most families I know are touched in some way by cancer and for that reason I want to raise monies for a cause that not only helps cancer sufferers, but supports their friends and families too.

“For that end I have chosen MacMillan. So I will be after ideas from everyone, especially children, to help in this cause.”

Cllr Clare joined the Royal Navy at 17 and stayed in the service until her marriage in 1968.

She lived in Singapore until 1973 and then, on her return to the UK, lived in Plymouth and Poole before returning to Ellesmere Port.

She worked for a local MP from 1992 until 1997 and during that time established the charity Parents Against Drug Abuse (PADA).

Cllr Clare continued to work for the charity for 15 years and was awarded an MBE in 2004 in recognition.

She became a Councillor in 2006, again in 2011 and has since been elected for a third term on Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The deputy mayor of Ellesmere Port is Cllr or Myles Hogg who has been a councillor for 28 years, representing Willaston and Thornton for 20 of them.

Cllr Hogg said: “My role during the coming twelve months will be supporting the Mayor and I hope that I will be getting out and about around Ellesmere Port, meeting local people and children at a number of occasions and events.”