LIBERAL Democrat Mike Biggin – who comfortably retained his seat on Warrington Borough Council despite the national swing against his party in this month’s elections – has been sworn in as the 128th Mayor of Warrington.
The Grappenhall and Thelwall councillor, who has been a member of the borough council for five years, was installed at the annual meeting of the council.
His wife, Tricia, is the new Mayoress.
Cllr Biggin told the council he accepted the post with a mixture of pride and humility.
The former teacher, who has also played guitar in a pop group, operated a mobile disco and taken parts in television dramas such as “Waterloo Road” and films such as “Titanic,” urged members of all parties on the council to work together to protect the people of Warrington through the present troubled times.
Proposing Cllr Biggin as Mayor, Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks praised him for and the new Mayoress for agreeing to take on what were demanding roles without any preparation.
Normally, he said, the new Mayor and Mayoress had been prepared for the jobs by acting as deputy Mayor and Mayoress.
But when the deputy Mayor, former councillor Ted Finnegan, had lost his seat in the election, Cllr Biggin and his wife had agreed to step into the breach.
The council voted unanimously that Cllr Biggin be the new Mayor and that Cllr Steve Wright be deputy Mayor.
Pictured: The new Mayor and Mayoress pose with the official Mayor-making party outside the Town Hall.
