Sefton’s outgoing mayor fought back tears as she said “Sefton I love you, you’re amazing” in an emotional speech during a ceremony to swear in the borough’s new mayor Cllr June Burns.
Cllr Burns was officially sworn in a ceremony held at Bootle Town Hall yesterday, May 16.
The Labour councillor, who represents Park ward had previously been the borough's mayor during the pandemic.
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Cllr Burns spoke about how her last period as mayor had brought many unexpected events. She said: "I began my term as the first female Labour mayor of Sefton and I ended it as the covid mayor or the virtual mayor."
She said she was looking forward to the challenges of representing the borough in the ceremonial role and paid tribute to the work carried out by her predecessor Cllr Clare Carragher.
Speaking of her two year term in the ceremonial role, outgoing mayor Cllr Carragher said it had been “the honour of my life” to represent the borough during such an “eventful” period, including attending events to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the swearing in of the new King.
Cllr Carragher said: “The past two years have been amazing, thank you each and every one of you for entrusting me with the role.”
She also thanked councillors for their cross party support and said she was “overwhelmed with the kindness and words of support” she had received.
Cllr Carragher added “I hope I’ve done Sefton proud” as she spoke of the many “adventures” during her term of office, including appearing on Chinese State TV and getting “more brownie badges than when I was a brownie myself.”
Fighting back tears at she finished her final speech as the borough’s mayor, Cllr Carragher said: “Sefton I love you, you’re awesome.”
The meeting was then adjourned until Thursday, when the borough’s full council will meet again to appoint the leader, deputy leader, cabinet and committees for the coming year.
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