POSTMAN TO BE CARLISLE'S 426TH MAYOR

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Carlisle postman Dave Wilson is to be the city’s 426th mayor.


The Labour councillor for Upperby will be elected as Carlisle’s first citizen when the city council holds its annual meeting on Monday. He succeeds Conservative Barry Earp.

He said: “My aim will be to get out into the community, which is my forte. I’m a people’s man.

“As a postman you meet people from all walks of life and that’s where my strengths lie.”

Mr Wilson, 59, of Gardenia Street, Currock, has been a postman for 35 years. He became a Labour councillor for Upperby in 1995 and has represented the ward ever since.

He is a member of the council’s regulatory panel and served on the old housing and environment committees, and the former direct service organisation board.

He is a governor of Upperby Primary School, chairman of Petteril Bank Community Centre and sits on other committees including the Harraby Youth Project, the Friends of Hammonds Pond and Upperby Parish Hall. His hobbies include gardening, bird watching and stamp collecting.

His sister-in-law, Catherine Wilson, will be mayoress while Conservative Ray Bloxham will be deputy mayor with view to taking over as mayor in a year’s time.

The mayor-making ceremony is one of the highlights of the civic calendar.

Councillors wear purple robes as a ceremonial sword and mace are carried into the council chamber and the new mayor swears an oath of allegiance.

The sword, which dates from 1635, is an emblem of civic independence.

At the meeting in the Civic Centre, councillors will also elect Labour’s Joe Hendry as council leader. Conservative Mike Mitchelson, who has been leader since 1999, will resign at the start of proceedings after elections on May 3 gave Labour an overall majority.

The leader chooses the other members of the ruling executive. Dr Hendry has indicated he will appoint Castle ward councillor Elsie Martlew, Belle Vue representatives Les Tickner and Jessica Riddle, Currock’s Colin Glover and St Aidan’s councillor Anne Quilter.

A Cumbria County Council by-election takes place in Aspatria and Wharrels division on Thursday. It was called after the resignation of Mike Johnson last month.

Jim Lister hopes to retain the seat for the Conservatives. He is challenged by Labour’s Brian Cope, Liberal Democrat Phill Roberts, Independent Bill Finlay and David Bober of the Greens.

Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm. The count takes place immediately afterwards at the Masonic Hall in Aspatria.