After officially signing in and donning the mayoral robes, Councillor Jan Fuller re-entered a full council meeting as the new mayor of Elmbridge.

Proposed and seconded at the meeting at Esher Civic Centre on Wednesday, May 20, Coun Fuller announced she would be supporting Sparks as her chosen charity for the year.

Councillor Tannia Shipley took on the role of deputy mayor and Coun Fuller declared they will make a great team.

Leaving the robes behind and heading back to the political debates, Councillor Barry Fairbank, for Long Ditton, thanked everyone for their support during his busy and enjoyable year as mayor, announced about £26,500 had been raised for his charity Home Start Elmbridge and made special reference to his wife, Jill, who attended almost every event with him.

Councillor Dorothy Mitchell, for Cobham and Downside, passed on to Coun Fuller the advice she was given when she became mayor: "Always take the office of mayor seriously but never take yourself too seriously."