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07
May
New mayor keen to make Harrogate a 'healthier, happier place' to live
A family doctor became Harrogate Town Council’s second ever mayor last night at a ceremony held at the Civic Centre.
Dr Viv Poskitt, the town councillor representing the St George’s ward, takes over from Cllr Chris Aldred as mayor, an office she will hold for a year. Her husband, Tim Craven, will be her consort.
Cllr Chrissie Holmes will take over from Cllr Jenny Travena as deputy mayor, and Cllr Holmes’ husband, Neil, will be her consort.
Harrogate's mayor, Dr Viv Poskitt.
At the mayor-making ceremony, which was attended by dozens of dignitaries, friends, family and wellwishers, as well as the mayors of Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge, Cllr Poskitt thanked Cllr Aldred for his service in the role, and said she wanted to raise the profile of the council and use social media to better help with enquiries from the public.
Cllr Poskitt receives the chain of office as outgoing deputy mayor Cllr Jenny Travena looks on.
She said:
With my enthusiasm and energy I want to continue to be active and visible. I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and help with activities such as litter-picking and bucket-shaking.
With my health background, I’m keen to promote the well-being of the town. I’m also known for cycling around the area and hope to promote better ways of getting around the town.
Cllr Poskitt flanked by the mayors of Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough.
Cllr Poskitt, who is a partner at Moss Healthcare in Harrogate, will continue her work as a GP over the coming year. She added:
In essence, I’m eager to work collaboratively to help make the town of Harrogate a happier, healthier place to live, work and enjoy.
Even though Harrogate Town Council is only a year old, it follows some old traditions.
Bowing out of the role he has made his own over the last year, Cllr Aldred said he had in successive years been Harrogate’s deputy charter mayor, its last charter mayor, and its first town mayor – a unique sequence of roles unlikely to be repeated. “I’m etched in Harrogate’s history,” he said.
He also said he had attended 120 events as mayor last year, telling the new mayor “so you’ve got that to look forward to – a target for you to beat”.
Cllr Poskitt replied: “You’re on!”.
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