HUNDREDS of people have gathered at Southampton’s Guildhall for the making of Southampton’s 801st mayor.
In traditional fashion, Southampton said goodbye to the outgoing Lord Mayor, Cllr Jacqui Rayment, as the robes were handed over to Cllr Valerie Laurent on Wednesday.
Attended by civic leaders, family and friends, the ceremony also saw long-standing Labour councillor, Dave Shields, elected as Sheriff of Southampton.
The new mayor, Cllr Laurent, said she was “both honoured and humbled at this great office” adding that it is a “wonderful thing that this city has bestowed upon [her]”.
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“I am so grateful for the opportunity to be Lord Mayor of Southampton.
“I will serve and support our citizens in every way I can to the best of my ability. I am really looking forward to the year ahead!
“I would like to compliment the outgoing mayor, Cllr Jacqui Rayment who has been kind and supportive in my role this year.
“I look forward to some time in the future, and the future will be great and we will make it so together.”
The Lord Mayor’s chosen charities are Sea Cadets, Saints Foundation and City Farm.
Riya Bharathram of Hollybrook Junior School was announced as the city’s children’s mayor, taking over from Amaanah Hayat, of St Deny's Primary School.
She was selected as a result of her Eco-Schools project designed to make schools cleaner and more eco-friendly.
Riya said she is “really happy” with her new role, adding: “I have told some of my family and they are all like ‘wow’.
“My project eco-schools is about schools and communities working together.
“This would help everyone understand the huge impact littering makes on us and our environment.
“Even though the club is part of the school, I hope litter picking becomes a habit for everyone outside of school.
“This would help keep the streets of Southampton clean and green.”
Departing mayor, Cllr Rayment, who was the city's first lord mayor after the Queen granted the city lord mayor status, said her year had “flown by”.
“I expected it to be fun. I expected it to be tiring.
“Right up to the last it got better and better and better.
“It showed that you didn’t have to be rich. Or special. You just had to do it your way and be you.
“My year has been epic. It has had epic people in it and I have had three epic charities.”
Cllr Laurent took her oath of office and received the prestigious mayoral chain and robes during the ceremony.
Music was also provided from a brass band and singers, with the national anthem being sung before the ceremony came to an end.
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