'I'm right proud, duck' - Stokie Lyn is Lord Mayor after 40 year council career
Lyn Sharpe has been appointed as Stoke-on-Trent's new Lord Mayor - five years after taking voluntary redundancy at the city council. The councillor for Fenton West and Mount Pleasant started working at Stoke-on-Trent City Council as a teenager and stayed for 40 years before finally leaving the authority in 2019.
But she returned to the council as an elected member last year, and will now serve as Stoke-on-Trent's first citizen for the next 12 months. Cllr Sharpe worked in children's services for 28 years, before becoming a traffic warden, and then a security guard at Hanley Town Hall.
She admitted it felt strange to be back in the same building as a councillor, and now Lord Mayor, but said she felt excited to get started in the role. Cllr Sharpe was sworn in as Stoke-on-Trent's 98th Lord Mayor after being elected by fellow councillors at the start of today's annual council meeting.
READ: Royal Stoke A&E waits best in three years - but 'cracks now appearing' - More than 70 per cent of A&E patients have been seen within four hours for two months in a row
READ: Taxpayers fork out £20k for probe into parish council 'bullying' row - Betley councillor Angela Drakakis-Smith is set to be 'censured' after an investigation found she breached the code of conduct
She said: "When I left my job at the council in 2019, I never thought that I'd be back in this same building as a councillor, never mind Lord Mayor. When the opportunity came up to stand for election, I wouldn't say I jumped at it, but it was something I wanted to do. I'm a people person, and I'm a proud Fentonian and Stokie.
"After becoming a councillor I did feel like I had imposter syndrome for a while, but I've risen to the challenge and I think that being Lord Mayor is something I can excel at. My friend asked me if I was going to start speaking with a posh accent after becoming Lord Mayor, and I said definitely not. I'm right proud, duck!"
During her year in office, Cllr Sharpe will be raising money for Period Power, which provides free access to sanitary products, and Emmaus North Staffs, which supports over 800 households with essential furniture and appliances. Cllr Sharpe's consort will be her husband, Kevin Sharpe.
Cllr Sharpe has been involved in a range of groups and organisations in Stoke-on-Trent for years. She has been involved with CAMRA's Stoke-on-Trent branch for over 30 years, and in 2017 was named the group's national campaigner of the year.
She also supports the Restoke arts group at Fenton Town Hall, and was recently involved with The Odyssey project in conjunction with the National Theatre.
Cllr Sharpe succeeds Majid Khan, whose second term as Lord Mayor came to an end at the annual council meeting.
He said: "Not many people have had the chance to be Lord Mayor twice, so I really grateful for the trust you have placed in me, and for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated individuals on this council. Our year in office has gone so quickly - it has been a tremendous journey and a privilege beyond measure to serve this wonderful city once again."
Councillor Steve Watkins, who represents Abbey Hulton, has been appointed Deputy Lord Mayor for the year ahead.
If you're on the lookout for local news, we have you covered with our FREE email newsletter - sign up in the box at the top of this story or click here.