New Mayor of Peterborough installed for coming year

Councillor David Sanders will hold the prestigious post for the next 12 months following a ceremony at the Town Hall.

The Conservative member for Eye, Thorney and Newborough, son of former council leader Neville Sanders, takes over from Cllr John Peach in the role.

Cllr Peach, and mayoress Janet Martin, ended their year’s service by attending the Mayor’s Ball at the Holiday Inn last week.

He said: “It has been a real privilege and honour to be the mayor of the city of Peterborough during the last 12 months.

“I have attended many interesting events and met many marvellous hard-working people out in the community.

“I’m sure David Sanders will make an excellent mayor and hopefully move Peterborough yet further forward.”

The position of mayor is chosen on seniority, with the longest serving councillor who wants the role, and who has not already held it, installed.

Cllr Sanders has been a councillor since 1997.

The Mayor’s Chaplain will be The Reverend Simon Kaye of Thorney Abbey, Pioneer Curate of Eye, Newborough and Thorney.

During his year in office, Cllr Sanders will raise money for the Salvation Army Good Neighbours Scheme, Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and the Royal Air Force Association.

Cllr Sanders has chosen not to have a mayoress.

There has been recent controversy over the position of mayor after Cllr Gul Nawaz threatened to resign from the Conservative group, apparently because he had believed he was going to take over from Cllr Peach.

The new deputy mayor is Cllr Keith Sharp, who recently switched to the Liberal Party having stood until May as an independent.

The member for Dogsthorpe, who previously served as mayor in 2010/11, replaces Cllr Nazim Khan in the role.

His friend Christine Wilson will be deputy mayoress.