[T]he new Mayor of Workington was declared as Cllr Ann Bales at a ceremony at the Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre on Friday 26 May.
Cllr Ann Bales will carry out the role until May 2018 following on from her predecessor, Cllr Joan Wright. Cllr Bales confirmed her chosen charities for the year as the ‘Cystic Fibrosis Trust’ and ‘Team Isla’.
Cllr Barbara Cannon was announced as Deputy Mayor and Nicola Bales as Mayoress, supporting the Mayor in her duties.
The ceremony included a speech from Cllr Joan Wright during which she reflected on her term in office and a successful year of fundraising for the charity Myeloma UK. Over the course of the year Cllr Wright had risen over £7000 for the charity by organising a variety of fundraising activities including an afternoon tea and sponsored bike ride.
Margaret McIntyre was announced as Cllr Wright’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ and was awarded the Volunteer’s Shield. Margaret volunteers for a number of the town’s charitable organisations including the Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre, Workington Music Festival, Helena Thompson Museum, Workington Inner Wheel and Workington Amateur Dramatic and Musical Society.
The ceremony was attended by local people and invited dignitaries, including guests from Workington’s twin towns of Selm and Val Du Reuil. The guests from the twin towns have attended the ceremony before, but made a special effort to be present this year as the town reaches its 20th anniversary of twinning with the French town of Val Du Reuil.