TWO of Swansea’s longest-serving councillors have become Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.
Cllr Mike Day succeeds Councillor Mary Jones, to become Lord Mayor for 2022/23 and his deputy will be Cllr Graham Thomas.
Cllr Day, who has been a ward member for Sketty for 23 years, was inaugurated at a Ceremonial Council held in the Council Chamber today (May 20).
As Lord Mayor Cllr Day will have an important civic and ceremonial role as the city’s official ambassador. He will also be involved in raising money for local good causes, and has chosen Maggie’s Centre, Swansea and Zac’s Place as the Lord Mayor’s charities.
Cllr Day’s wife, Chris, was born and brought up in Mayhill and West Cross, and will be Lady Mayoress for the year.
Cllr Day said: “I am very grateful to my councillor colleagues for their support in nominating me as Lord Mayor.
“It is a huge honour and privilege to be serving the communities of Swansea as their Lord Mayor.
“My wife and I are really looking forward to getting out and about among the people of this fantastic city that we love so much, as well as representing Swansea to visitors and as an ambassador at a very exciting time for our communities.”
Cllr Day’s working background is in education and business. He was a business lecturer at the West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education (now University of Wales Trinity St David) and was the first Dean of Swansea Business School.
In 2003 he joined Swansea University, linking digital businesses and university researchers, and later supporting new start-ups in life sciences. Soon after he ‘retired’ in 2013, he set up the UK subsidiary of a Chinese education organisation, and founded a charity, establishing an enterprise competition for student teams from UK and China.
Cllr Day was first elected to the Sketty ward in 1999 and has served there ever since. He was the council’s Cabinet Member for Education for more than seven years between 2004 and 2012. He continues to serve local schools on the governing bodies of Sketty Primary and Olchfa and was on the Board of Gower College Swansea until last year.
Cllr Day has served the community on the leadership team of Parklands Church for over 30 years, and is an active supporter of the Sketty Foodbank based in Sketty Park and is a member of the Community Centre Management Committee. His leisure activities include walking, enjoying the fabulous natural environment of the area and, as a season ticket-holder, watching the Swans.
