A former Sun journalist who has hobnobbed with Elizabeth Taylor, Robert de Niro and Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken office as mayor of Kingston.

Originally a soldier, Councillor Patrick Codd switched to journalism, working on the North Devon Journal and Herald and the Western Evening Herald, before moving on to the national stage at the Sun, Daily Express and Daily Mail.

He was first elected councillor for Coombe Hill in 1994, and has served as deputy leader of the Conservative group and chair of the Maldens and Coombe neighbourhood committee.

He took the oaths of office and loyalty to the crown at the Guildhall on Wednesday, May 11, witnessed by a Kingston magistrate for the last time before the court closes next month.

Proposing him as mayor, Conservative leader Councillor Howard Jones said: “Pat is a true blue Englishman who counts the qualities of service, gentlemanly behaviour, honour and integrity as the main characteristics to look for in any man, and qualities he himself has in abundance.

“He is articulate, colourful and an elder of this Council who I am sure will uphold the true dignity of the office and I look forward to a really successful year for him, the mayoress and his deputy.”

At the annual council meeting on Wednesday, May 11, Coun Codd appointed Canbury ward Councillor Geoff Austin as his deputy.

Coun Austin hit the ground running, attending a citizenship ceremony, retirement party for the principal of Coombe Girls’ School and the Kingston Open Tennis tournament while the new mayor celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary.

Speaking about the opening of the Kingston beer festival, he said: “I made a brief speech at that one as there were was a very thirsty-looking crowd, and a lot of serious drinking to be done.”

The new mayoral team will raise funds for Born Too Soon, a charity for babies cared for at Kingston Hospital’s neo-natal unit, and Macmillan Cancer.

Leader of the Council Derek Osbourne paid tribute to predecessor Councillor Chrissie Hitchcock, who raised about £23,000 for charity.