MARGARET Young is Launceston’s new mayor, writes Amy?Dennis.

A former teacher and assistant head at Launceston College, Cllr Young has served two years as the town’s deputy mayor, and was elected mayor at last week’s town council meeting on May 16.

Cllr Paul O’Brien, in formally proposing that Cllr Young take on the role, said: “For those of us who have had the pleasure of working with her, we know she can be a formidable lady when she wants to be. I have no doubt she will serve this town and the council admirably.”

Cllr Young said, on being elected: “Thank you fellow councillors for your confidence in me. I promise to work hard. I hope I won’t let you down. I hope I do a reasonable job.”

Usually a mayor choosing ceremony takes place at Launceston in May, but this year, owing to the local elections, a formal induction of the mayor will instead take place on June 30.

Cllr Young said: “The ceremonial induction of the mayor is what happened when Cllr Jordan became mayor in an election year.”

She explained that outgoing mayor, Cllr Brian Hogan, will be robed as mayor until the handover at the induction.

Speaking to the Post after the meeting, Cllr Young, who went to school locally before working at Launceston College for 32 years, added: “I’m passionate about the town and I don’t think the town’s dying. We have just all got to work together to make sure the town thrives.

“I have always been passionate about young people in the town — my charities will be steered towards that.”

She is the first female mayor since Mary Williams in 2004/05.

Two names were put forward for the role of deputy mayor. Cllr John Conway proposed Cllr John Harris, who he said ‘has served this council very well and haven’t had the acknowledgement he deserves’, but it was the motion that Cllr Dave Gordon be made deputy mayor that was carried.

In proposing Cllr Gordon, Cllr Brian Keighley said: “He has done a tremendous amount for this town. He’s put Launceston on the map through his hard work on the carnival, and also at Coronation Park in running the fireworks, the road safety partnership, litter picking, and that’s just to name a few.”

Cllr Gordon has lived in Launceston all his life and is a caretaker at South Petherwin School. He was in the fire brigade for 30 years and retired around nine years ago.

He said: “It’s a great honour to be considered to be mayor or deputy mayor. I hope to do it justice.”