COUNCILLOR Paul Grimes has become one of the youngest mayors of Royston. He took over the role at Royston Town Council s annual meeting on Monday evening. And he said that he would be a modern mayor although making sure that he will keep the traditions

COUNCILLOR Paul Grimes has become one of the youngest mayors of Royston.

He took over the role at Royston Town Council's annual meeting on Monday evening.

And he said that he would be a "modern mayor" although making sure that he will keep the traditions of the office.

He said the role of a modern mayor would be "to promote all aspects of Royston and to draw attention to all those people who work tirelessly in the background to make things happen".

Cllr Grimes continued: "The role is to be a cheerleader for the town. I think that I can be cheerleader, but perhaps without the short skirt and the pom-poms."

He took over the position from Cllr Peter Lill, who died last week at the age of 67 on his last day as Mayor of Royston.

Cllr Grimes said it was sad that the tradition of handing over the mayoral chain could not have been done by Cllr Lill, a man, he said, who was proud of his role.

"I hope to continue in that tradition," he said.

Cllr Grimes, 29, an accountant, was elected to Royston Town Council two years ago as for the Meridian ward. He has a wife, Charlotte and a four-year-old son, Oliver.

He is the third youngest mayor to take on the role. Alan Cecil was 26 years old when he became mayor in 1981 and Mark Hughes was 28 years old in 1990.

Cllr Grimes talked about becoming mayor of his "adopted town" as "a great honour".

And he said it was a town that was going through a phrase of "potential rejuvenation" with the Royston First scheme for businesses and the town centre strategy providing a catalyst for the future.

Cllr Grimes has chosen the Garden House Hospice as he mayoral charity during the year.

He hopes that money raised will help meet the costs of a major redevelopment at the hospice in Letchworth.

Last year's mayoral charity raised more than £4,300 for the Speak Out Stroke Club at The Old Barn in Royston and the Lewin Stroke Unit at Addenbrooke's hospital.