RETIRED education welfare officer Keith Edwards has been sworn in as the new mayor of Gosport.
The married father-of-two, who has been a councillor for six years, takes over the reins from Councillor Iris Binfield.
Cllr Edwards who has lived in Gosport for 30 years since he joined the Navy, said: "I'm looking forward to the coming year, in particular to meeting local groups and charities that do so much for the community.
The mayor's charities this year are Gosport and District Sports Association for the Disabed (GADSAD) and the Haslar Hospital and War Memorial Hospital League of Friends.
His first duty as mayor is to present this year's citizen and young citizen of the year.
The young citizen award was presented to ten-year-old Kieron Rushworth who cares for his four-year-old sister Hope who suffers from an incurable lung disease.
Joan Russell is citizen of the year. Her seven children sparked her keen interest in Gosport's local history.
She gives her time as a school governor, treasurer for the Girl Guides, adult literacy tutor and supporter of Tools for Self Reliance, restored a derelict rectory and written the book Gosport 800.
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