New mayor and deputy mayor of Wrexham elected at annual ceremony

Wrexham’s new mayor and deputy mayor for the next 12 months were formally elected this afternoon.

Garden Village Councillor Andy Williams was elected as mayor – taking over from incumbent Cllr John Pritchard, who today stepped down after carrying out the role for the past two years.

Leading the nominations was Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard, who said it was a “great pleasure to formally” move that Cllr Andy Williams takes over role of mayor.

No other nominations for the position of Mayor were put forward – with all councillors present voting in favour of Cllr Williams taking over the role.

Cllr Williams, who works as a firefighter alongside representing Garden Village as a councillor, offered his thanks to the council’s civic staff for their help and support for the past 12 months and for the coming year.

He also announced that the mayor’s charities for the next 12 months will be the Wales Air Ambulance, the Katie Piper Foundation and Nightingale House Hospice.

Cllr Rob Walsh, who represents Llay, was also appointed to the position of deputy mayor after his nomination from Cllr Andrew Atkinson was backed unanimously.

In his nomination Cllr Atkinson said he first met Cllr Walsh in 2014 during their “respective quests” for MP, jokingly added that “you all know how that ended”.

He added: “Rob is without doubt one of the hardest working councillors I’ve ever met and I know that if he approaches his duties in the office of Deputy Mayor of Wrexham in the same way that he approaches his work for the community of Llay then Wrexham will be all the richer for it.”

Cllr Walsh was unanimously voted into the role of deputy mayor by councillors.

Accepting his the role, Cllr Walsh said it was “great to follow in the footsteps” of the great mayors and deputy mayors in Wrexham and that he was grateful to be elected as deputy mayor.

Councillors and family and friends of the mayor and deputy mayor were also treated to a musical performance from Brymbo Male Voice Choir.

The Annual Meeting of Council has been reconvened and will continue at 4pm on Wednesday 23rd May. For those interested in coming and watching the proceedings, we’d recommended bringing some cold water and a fan.