The rain held off for the assembled councillors and guests as the sun broke through the trees at the Borough Gardens in Dorchester where the Mayor Making Ceremony was held this evening (24 May 2021).
The outgoing Mayor Richard Biggs was first elected to the Council in 1993 and also previously served on West Dorset District and Dorset County Councils having been elected to the Dorset Council in May 2019. He previously served as Mayor in 1997-98, 2005-06 and 2019-20. Richard led the ceremony and proposed Gareth Jones for next Mayor.
During the ceremony Richard said: “It is always a moment of anticipation when it comes to changing to a new Mayor. Particularly when it’s their first time. I know Gareth will bring his enthusiasm to the role, in fact he’s been positively brimming over with enthusiasm for some months now.”
Gareth has lived in Dorset for over 30 years, nearly all of which have been in Dorchester. He has worked as a Council Economic Development Officer for over 15 years, supporting the development of jobs, skills and business growth. Gareth has been a Dorchester Town Councillor for eight years, four as Chairman of Policy Committee, and has helped shape the Council’s vision of the town’s future as a place of opportunity for all who live, work and visit here. His interests include singing, playing music, dancing, gardening and badminton.
Mayor Gareth Jones has listed his charities for the year which include the Gap Project, a community garden off Lubbecke Way, and a new community café and shop in Trinity St, under development by a team from Mencap Mid-Dorset.
Mayor Jones said at the ceremony: “Ann and I look forward very much to the year ahead and to meeting and supporting the people of this town and helping them succeed in their ambitions.”
Richard Biggs was elected as Deputy Mayor for the following year.
