New Mayor and Deputy Mayor appointed for Telford & Wrekin

Cllr Smith, takes over from Cllr Ian Fletcher as Mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin. The new Deputy Mayor will be Cllr Kevin Guy, Elected Councillor for Woodside.

Malcolm was first elected as Chairman of Wrekin Council in 1994 and was then Chairman of Telford & Wrekin Council in 1998. In 2006, he was elected to the position of Mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin. This is the fourth time that he has held the prestigious post of the borough’s First Citizen.

Cllr Malcolm Smith, new Mayor, said: “I am looking forward to embracing the role of Mayor once again, which is the public and civic link between the Council and the community. My job is to promote the borough’s reputation as an efficient and caring body. I take the role of Mayor very seriously and have chosen Diabetes UK (Telford branch) as the Mayoral charity for this year.”

Malcolm was born in St Georges, and moved to Hadley. He married Christine 48 years ago. They have a son and two granddaughters.

He became a miner on leaving school at 15 and later worked as a representative for a bearing company. On reaching the position of Executive Director, Malcolm started his own company selling bearings, V belts and roller chain to local industry. Following the closure of the company he ran a consultancy from home, sourcing development land for a Jersey based organisation.

Cllr Smith was elected as a Parish Councillor in 1970 and two years later to the District Council. He has served as a district and then borough councillor for the last 38 years. He held the position of Deputy Leader for 13 years and was then Leader for a further seven years.

Malcolm has been a member of St Johns Ambulance for 44 years rising to the position of Area Staff Officer and has been awarded the Long Service Medal and the Order of St John.

It was his work in St John’s and his interest in people and the locality which first brought him into local government.

He is actively involved with a number of senior citizens groups within the borough and is vice president of the Hadley Rest Room Senior Citizens organisation and president of the Haybridge Hall Residents Association. Malcolm is also the president of the Hadley Male Orpheus Voice Choir.

The new Deputy Mayor for 2011/12 will be Cllr Kevin Guy.

Kevin was elected to serve the Woodside ward in the elections this year. He was born in Wrockwardine and has lived in Telford all his life, as well as serving in the Royal Navy for seven years. He was posted in 2004-2006 to the Naval Intelligence Cell, Mediterranean Fleet HQ in Naples, Italy.

Of serving in the Royal Navy, Cllr Guy said: “The most important part of being in the Navy for me was the honour of serving my Queen and country, whilst following in my grandfathers footsteps and working as part of a team where everyone had a sense of responsibility to his fellow servicemen.”

Cllr Guy has a Joint Honours degree in International Politics and Social and Economic History from Aberystwyth University. He is currently a Lecturer at Halesowen College and a keen sportsman.

Cllr Guy, Deputy Mayor, said: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to become Deputy Mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin. I am eager to act as ambassador for the area and meet as many residents as possible. I

believe Telford and Wrekin’s future rests on our children and young people and this will be a key part of my focus for the coming year. I take great pleasure in the sense of fulfilment I get from teaching. Watching new and fresh ideas bubble up in young minds is hugely rewarding in a time when the youth get a lot of negative press.

“I’m also committed to promoting the work of charities in this area.”