Mayoral
Council welcomes a new Mayor of Walsall
Published on
A new Mayor for the borough has been appointed following the annual Mayor Making ceremony in the Council Chamber in Walsall on Monday 20 May 2024.
The ceremony is one of the highlights in Walsall’s civic calendar, with the new Mayor receiving the robes and chains of office and naming the charities that will benefit from fundraising activities during their time in office.
Councillor Anthony Harris was elected as Mayor of Walsall for 2024-25 and Councillor Louise Harrison was elected as Deputy Mayor for 2024-25. The new mayor takes over from Councillor Chris Towe, who has held the position since last year. During his year in office, the Mayor will chair council meetings, represent the council at civic events and attend community engagements.
Following the Mayor Making ceremony, the council meeting was adjourned until 6pm on Wednesday 22 May 2024, when the council meets to make appointments to the council’s boards and committees and external organisations.
This Annual Meeting will take place in the Council Chamber and is available to view at: https://aisapps.mediasite.com/AuditelScheduler/CreateSchedules/Past/41
“ It’s a huge honour to have been selected to serve as Mayor of Walsall and I’m looking forward to serving the borough over the next 12 months.
I’d like to thank Councillor Chris Towe for all his hard work during his term of office, which culminated earlier this month in a wonderful celebratory event at Walsall Arboretum to mark its 150th anniversary.
My chosen charities for the year are Well Wishers and the children’s department at Walsall Manor Hospital to aid children with meningitis, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. “
Notes to editors
- Seats in 20 wards were contested at the recent local elections on Thursday 2 May 2024. The results were 12 seats for the Conservative Party, 5 seats for Labour and 3 seats for Independents.
- Councillor Anthony Harris was first elected to Walsall Council in 2004 and has been a councillor for 20 years. He represents the Aldridge North and Walsall Wood ward. During his year as Mayor, he will be supported by his wife Christina as Mayoress. He has served on several committees in the council including cabinet, planning, licensing, and safety and personnel.
- Councillor Anthony Harris was born in Southampton in 1940. He was born to Elias and Evelyn Harris, a fairground family, and he first got involved in the family business as a child, learning to be a wall of death rider. Later, he took an apprenticeship where he learnt the traditional art of fairground painting.
- He is the owner of the Pat Collins Funfairs and continues to remain active in the running of this business alongside his wife and two sons, Anthony and Michael. He served as Chairman of the Midlands regional committee of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain as well as its President. For over 28 years, he was the Guild’s main representative on the Health and Safety Executive’s joint action committee, developing the safety of fairgrounds and amusement parks in the UK. He has sat on the Advisory Committee of the National Fairground and Circus Archive at Sheffield University, where he still serves as Adviser Emeritus. His interests include maintaining vintage vehicles and refurbishing vintage funfair equipment.
- The WellWishers charity supports the work of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust by helping to fund equipment and resources to help patients and their families. Charity - Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
- The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association provides guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services to people who are blind and partially sighted. www.guidedogs.org.uk
- The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity operates and funds three air ambulance helicopters and a fleet of critical care cars serving the communities of six Midlands counties including the West Midlands. Read more here: www.midlandsairambulance.com
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