Councillor Chris Williams (Bryncoch South) has been sworn in as the new Mayor of Neath Port Talbot.
Cllr Williams has worked for Tesco Stores for 34 years and also works as a support worker for Rushcliffe Independent Hospitals.
He was sworn in at Neath Port Talbot Council’s Annual General Meeting at Port Talbot Civic Centre on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, where he paid tribute to the excellent work during the past year of outgoing Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Robert Wood and Sylvia John, who attended more than 200 events in their busy civic year.
The Mayoress of Neath Port Talbot for 2023/24 is a close family friend of Cllr Williams, Debbie Rees, who is a secretary in a Welsh language school in Neath Port Talbot.
Cllr Matthew Crowley (Sandfields East) and Michelle Thomas were sworn in as Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress at the same ceremony.
New Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Cllr Williams, told the AGM: “The Mayoress and I will do our best to uphold the important traditions of the office of Mayor while continuing the excellent work of the outgoing Mayor Cllr Robert Wood – he will be a hard act to follow due to the commitment he has shown in his year of office along with the Mayoress, Sylvia John. They both worked tirelessly to raise funds for their chosen charities and have served their community devotedly.
“Personally I would like to thank Ms Debbie Rees for accepting the role of Mayoress as well as all my family, friends and colleagues who have supported my daughter Siwan and I through difficult times over the past few years.
“I’d also like to thank my employers and colleagues at Tesco Stores and Rushcliffe Independent Hospitals – they have been very helpful and accommodating during my year as Deputy Mayor and for the continuation of their support into my Mayoral year.
“I have chosen two charities for my Mayoral year, the first is Harry’s Fund which was set up after the tragic death of Harry Patterson in 2011. Secondly I have chosen Ty Olwen Hospice at Morriston Hospital which does so much in our local area for patients and families of people suffering with cancer and life limiting diseases.”
