Rotherham's New Mayor

Councillor Wright took the role of Mayor at the annual meeting of Rotherham Borough Councilloril at Rotherham Town Hall on Friday, May 20.

Elected onto the authority in 2000, Councillor Wright Managers Urban Green Space in his native Barnsley. Born in Royston, he was educated at Royston Comprehensive School and gained an apprenticeship in horticulture and management with Barnsley Borough Councilloril, where he has worked for the past 27 years.

He moved to Rotherham 15 years ago when he married Lisa and eventually the couple settled in Rawmarsh, where he is governor at two local schools and the secretary of the Rawmarsh Branch Labour Party.

Councillor Wright believes economic regeneration and education are the keys to prosperity in any area and is determined to promote both during his term of office.

He said: "Economic regeneration is vital for an area to do well because it filters down and affects all sections of the population. But a vibrant economy needs well-educated and skilled young people to fill jobs. I never recognised the value of education until I had left school and began learning for my apprenticeship and then continued in further education." 

This interest has continued throughout his life and so it was not surprising that Councillor Wright became the first-ever Rotherham Cabinet member for Children and Young Peoples Services in 2005.

He wants all young people to have the same advantages and to be able to look forward to satisfying lives and futures and to that end is a huge advocate of economic regeneration.

He has long been a champion for former coalfield communities and is a trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration trust, a grant-giving body funded by central Government that supports community-led regeneration projects.

He is also a trustee of Groundwork Dearne Valley, the environment charity that works with local people to improve their environment and provide training for people across Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham - the place that he now calls home.

Councillor Wright is also a member of the South Yorkshire Police Authority, he chairs the Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Police Scrutiny Board and is a magistrate sitting on the Rotherham bench. He is also proud to be President of Millmoor Juniors Football Club.

"It is a real honour for me to be installed as Mayor and I am really looking forward to the year ahead and to getting around the borough and meeting as many people as possible," he said. "My year as deputy mayor has already been very  rewarding and I am sure this will continue during the coming 12 months."

The new Mayoress of Rotherham, Lisa Wright, is following a long-standing tradition. Her mother is Councillor Lindsay Johnston, a Wingfield ward councillor for the past 12 years. In addition Lisa's grandmother was Councillor Joan Johnston, who was Mayor of Rotherham in 1981, and her great grandfather was Councillor Bill Skelton, who was also the Mayor of Rotherham in 1969.

The new deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham will be Councillor Dave Pickering and his wife, Sue.   

Born in Rotherham, Councillor Pickering has lived and worked in the town for most of his life and for many years was a lecturer of Landbased Studies at Rother Valley College, Dinnington.

A councillor since 2002, Councillor Pickering represents the Valley Ward and is chair of the authority's Planning Board.

Living in East Herringthorpe, he is also a member of Dalton Parish Councilloril and serves as a governor for three local schools.