Royston Town Council elects Vera Swallow as new town mayor

Royston has a new town mayor, with the next first citizen of the town sworn in today.

Councillor Vera Swallow succeeds Sarah Dingley, whose year as mayor has come to a close.

Mrs Swallow said: “I feel very privileged and honoured to serve as mayor this year and hope I can do justice in representing Royston as it deserves.

“My family moved to the area in 1983 – firstly to Bassingbourn, where our daughters attended the local primary and college schools.

“We moved to Royston in 1993 and I continued working as a learning support assistant in Bassingbourn, which I enjoyed very much, until my retirement a few years ago.

“Since then I have taken a fresh view on living in Royston. Instead of a place just to live and work in, Royston offers so much more as it is such a friendly and welcoming town.”

Mrs Swallow has sat on Royston Town Council to represent Meridian ward for the last three years, and was deputy mayor last year.

She said: “After becoming a town councillor three years ago, I became aware of the amazing number of events and local clubs, the wealth of history of the town and the wonderful people who live here, and also the enormous contribution that volunteers and helpers make to their community.

“Although Royston has grown considerably in the last few decades, it has not lost its identity or its community spirit. That is a very big achievement and something the town should be really proud of – as I am myself.

“Throughout my mayoral year, I will be fundraising for the Mayor’s Community Trust Fund, a charity which awards grants on an annual basis to local organisations to help towards an event or activity which will benefit the community.”