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All rise for the new Lord Mayor of Manchester

17/05/2006

The new Lord Mayor of Manchester is "proud" of his Mancunian roots and "privileged" to be given the position, he announced today.

Councillor James Ashley, from Gorton, describes his new role as the "highest accolade the city council can bestow upon one of its members".

Appointed to the Manchester City Council bench in 1971, Councillor Ashley served as a magistrate for 34 years.

He has also been a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Building Section, as well as the Northwest Regional Advisory Committee for Building and Civil Engineering.

Councillor Ashley said: "I am looking forward to a year of meeting the city's residents and hosting visitors and VIPs from Manchester and across the world.

"I particularly want to make it clear to local voluntary youth groups and community groups that I value their considerable contribution to making Manchester so great and want to make it known that I want to meet them also."

He added that he hopes to discover more of Manchester's "fascinating heritage" during his year in office.

Stepping down from office is Councillor Mohammed Afzal Khan, who has served as Lord Mayor of Manchester for the past year.


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