Meet Rotherham's new mayor

ROTHERHAM’S youngest mayor says she will throw herself into the role after becoming first citizen a year earlier than expected.

Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley was sworn in at last Friday’s annual Rotherham Borough Council meeting, two days after her 40th birthday.

She had been set to be deputy mayor this year but took on the full role because planned new mayor Chris Middleton lost his council seat.

Cllr Pitchley said: “I’m going in at the deep end but I’m ready to throw myself in. What I’m looking forward to most is meeting so many people and raising money and awareness for my charities.”

The new mayor, first elected in 2011, added: “My husband David, along with his parents and our two children, are all really supportive and it’s great to know I have their backing.”

Cllr Pitchley suffered ill-health from a young age, missing out on school and leaving with few qualifications.

She was determined this would not hold her back and became active in her community. She is chairman of Aston Parish Council and a governor at several schools.

Her interest in public office was piqued at age ten when she met then-mayor Jack Skelton.

“I was so excited,” she said. “I got his autograph, which I still carry with me as inspiration about the role.

“Sadly, he passed away in 2001 so will not be able to see me in office, but I hope I would make him proud.”

Cllr Pitchley’s chosen charities are the Alzheimer’s Society, Rotherham’s branch of The National Autistic Society and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

She said: “Supporting people with mental health issues, in whatever form they take, is really important. I suffered from post-natal depression and know how important it is that the right support is in place.

“My son Adam is autistic. I know first-hand what it’s like for a parent and what the charity does. I know how hard it is to fight for education for people with autism.”

Cllr Pitchley chose guide dogs because of a visually-impaired friend, Hayley Martin (41), and the support the charity has given to her consort, close family friend Alex Armitage.

Fellow Holderness ward councillor Robert Taylor joked that he would need to lie in a darkened room to deal with the extra workload from Cllr Pitchley being away more.

Proposing her for mayor at the meeting, he said: “It’s on the understanding that it’s only a loan and we can have her back in a year’s time.”

The mayor’s annual civic parade left the Town Hall the following morning for an 11am service at Rotherham Minster.

Dignitaries including her counterparts from Barnsley, Doncaster and Wakefield took part, along with freemen of the borough and new Rotherham deputy mayor, Cllr Eve Rose Keenan.

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