PHOTO GALLERY: Mayor's thanks to the "cracking people of Rotherham"

“THANK you, everyone.”

That was the message from the Mayor of Rotherham Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley as she handed over the chains of office to her deputy Cllr Eve Rose Keenan.

Mum-of-two Cllr Pitchley said it had been the “best year of her life” after touring the borough and countless meetings with the “cracking people of Rotherham”.

Her year as the borough’s first-citizen came to an end at the mayor making ceremony at Rotherham Town Hall on Friday.

Cllr Pitchley said: “I’ve had an amazing time. The people of Rotherham are just cracking.

“Everywhere we have been, everyone has just been so friendly.

“I think it’s my biggest achievement. 

“Apart from my kids, it’s been the best year of my life - I can’t put it into words really.”

Cllr Pitchley took on the mayoral role just a day after her 40th birthday, becoming the borough’s youngest ever.

She chose family friend Alex Armitage to be her consort partly because her self-employed husband Dave’s work commitments meant he would not have had the time for all official duties required, as well as the fact she said Mr Armitage “got her to where she is today”.

Cllr Pitchley said having him as her consort had made the year even more enjoyable.

“Alex has been really good and he has really enjoyed it,” she added.

“It has been like having a fatherly figure with me because he is a good family friend.”

Cllr Pitchley was originally due to become the mayor and take the chains of office for the 2017/18 year but was propelled into the role a year early after former Deputy Mayor Chris Middleton lost his seat in the 2016 council elections.

“If I could put one message out there it would be thank you to everyone who has supported me,” Cllr Pitchley said.

“Everyone has been lovely and the people of Rotherham are fantastic. It’s been amazing.”