A new Mayor for North East Lincolnshire

He succeeds outgoing Mayor Hazel Chase, who passed over the chains of office at the annual Mayor Making ceremony on Thursday evening (16 May) at Grimsby Town Hall.

Councillor Walker was elected as Mayor of North East Lincolnshire in 1997, meaning this will be his second term as Mayor.

“I am proud and privileged to represent North East Lincolnshire and look forward to meeting as many residents, charities and organisations as I can,” he said.

“My wife, Christine, passed away 18 months ago and she was a brilliant Mayoress and a great support back in 1997.”

He added: “I hope to support many charities during my time as Mayor, but I will have particular focus on young people – like I did in my first term as Mayor.

“I hope to raise as much as possible for local good causes.”

Cllr Walker has set up a Mayoral Fund so he can support a number of local charities he meets during his Mayoral year. These will be announced at the end of his year in office.

Cllr Walker served on Great Grimsby Borough Council from 1988 to 1996 and then on North East Lincolnshire Council from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2011 to the present day.

He will be supported by Deputy Mayor Cllr David Hasthorpe and has also chosen outgoing Mayor Hazel Chase to be his Mayoress for the year.

Also presented on the evening was the Honour of the Freedom of the Borough of North East Lincolnshire to former councillor Andrew De Freitas and Honorary Alderman to former councillor Melanie Dickerson.

Mr De Freitas was first elected to Great Grimsby Borough Council in 1969 at the age of 24.

He became Leader of the council in 2004 and was Leader again for a five-year period in 2006. He retired from the North East Lincolnshire Council in May this year.

Mrs Dickerson was first elected to Cleethorpes Borough Council.

She became an Elected Member of North East Lincolnshire Council in 1999 and remained on the council until her retirement in May this year. She was Mayor of North East Lincolnshire in 2005/06.