Tile Hill councillor Gary Crookes made Coventry Lord Mayor

[dutchman]

A former Warrington grammar school boy who made Coventry his home 40 years ago becomes Coventry Lord Mayor at the cathedral today.



Conservative Wainbody councillor Gary Crookes will be sworn in at the mayor-making ceremony, as Labour councillor Ann Lucas officially become Coventry City Council’s first female council leader.

The traditional ceremony and council annual general meeting will also see Tory councillor Hazel Noonan become deputy Lord Mayor.

Coun Crookes said it was a proud day and he was looking forward to a year of helping Coventry face economic challenges. He added: “The city is fighting to make sure Coventry overcomes challenges as it always has in the past.

“I believe we’re coming out of a period of change. Coventry’s moved from ribbons to cycles through to the car industry. We’re now moving forward to technology industries.

“I’m looking forward to building relations with Coventry industry and reaching out to outside the area. Successful businesses are the lifeblood of our economy.”

On a personal note, he said he was hoping his third grandchild, due next week, would not come early as he wanted all his family present for the big day today.

The lad from Warrington and schoolmaster’s son came to Coventry in 1973 having met his Coventry-born wife, Shirley, when they both studied at University College of North Wales, Bangor.

After university, he became a field engineer for Plessey Telecommunications and made Coventry his home.

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress have two grown-up children and two granddaughters and live in Tile Hill, near to where a £450million “super-pit” coalmine was proposed in the 1980s.

Coun Sawdon said it was the campaign against the superpit that prompted him to became an active Conservative party member.

His charity will be the Heart of England Community Foundation to support local grassroots projects.

They include the Coventry Carers’ Centre and Coventry Action for Autism.

Coun Noonan becomes Deputy Lord Mayor with her son Christopher Noonan as the Deputy Lord Mayor’s Consort.