Liverpool’s newly appointed Lord Mayor will be officially sworn in during a ceremony at the Town Hall today, Wednesday, 14 May.
Councillor Barbara Murray, who has represented the Yew Tree ward since 2007, will take on the role.
She brings a diverse professional background to the position, having previously worked as a civil servant for the Inland Revenue, a retail area manager, a teacher, and a community development worker for a housing association.
A school governor since the 1990s, Cllr Murray was named School Governor of the Year in 2008 by Liverpool City Council for her work chairing the first Interim Executive Board in the city. She became a National Leader of Governance in 2016.
Since 2004, Cllr Murray has worked with Britain in Bloom and the Royal Horticultural Society on the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ community projects, and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by North West In Bloom in 2017.
Cllr Murray was a founder member of the ‘Dead Good Poets Society’ in the city, has performed locally and nationally, and had some of her poetry published.
Councillor Murray’s charity will be Liverpool Education Grants Charitable Trust, previously known as the Council of Education, which provides financial awards, bursaries and grants for extracurricular and cultural activities to students up to the age of 25 years. The Lord Mayor has asked the charity to set up a specific funding stream for lifelong learning and skills to improve employability and address poverty. The direct beneficiaries during her mayoral year will be Liverpool Literacy Cycle, Youth Works apprenticeships and Liverpool Poetry Space.
The new Lord Mayor’s consort will be her son Richard, and her daughters Ruth and Elizabeth will share the role of Lady Mayoress.
The new deputy Lord Mayor will be Cllr William Shortall.
Incoming Lord Mayor, Cllr Barbara Murray, said:
“It is a great privilege to be asked to be the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.
“My family, friends and colleagues are delighted that I have been accorded the honour of first citizen of our wonderful city. They have high expectations of me and want me to demonstrate our highest values and a traditional warm welcome to everyone.
“I am grateful for this unique opportunity to share my passions for education and creativity.
“I will be fundraising to support literacy skills acquisition, lifelong learning and the much needed regeneration of youth provision locally for our children and young people.”
The Lord Mayor’s duties include:
- Representing the city at civic functions/engagements
- Promoting the city nationally and internationally
- Supporting local charities and community groups
- Attending religious events of all denominations
- Meeting delegates from twinned cities
- Chairing meetings of the Full Council
- Conferring Honorary Freemen and Freedom of Associations and Institutions
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