City's new Lord Mayor feels 'weight of history'

York's new Lord Mayor has said he felt "the weight of history" on his shoulders after being appointed to the centuries-old role.

Conservative councillor Martin Rowley was officially chosen for the office - which is second only to that of the Lord Mayor of London in terms of its status - at City of York Council's annual meeting on Thursday.

Rowley told the meeting he relished being the next custodian of an office which dated back about eight centuries.

"I'm looking forward to stepping into this historic position and acting as an ambassador for this great city during what will certainly be a busy and exciting year for York," he said.

Rowley, councillor for the Osbaldwick and Derwent ward and deputy leader of the Conservative group on City of York Council, was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.

The Army veteran and owner of Rowley and Sons Funeral Services originally hails from Sheffield and he has lived with his wife Elizabeth and family in Osbaldwick since 2001.

He was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2021 for service to his community and he currently serves as the council's armed forces advocate.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he also plays the Eb bass tuba in the York Railway Institute Development Band.

Rowley said his chosen charities would be the Royal British Legion, York Against Cancer and Family Matters York, adding that he looked forward to meeting those who put others before themselves.

He said he had a tough act to follow in outgoing Lord Mayor Margaret Wells, and that the Labour councillor had served York with compassion, dignity and respect.

Rowley said: "I look at the names of the mayors who've gone before me and I see captains of industry like George Hudson and Joseph Rowntree. I feel the weight of history on my shoulders.

"But it isn't lost on me that I'm simply the next custodian of this office that dates back 800 years."

Wells, of Clifton ward, was appointed York's Deputy Lord Mayor for the coming year.

At the same meeting, former Conservative councillor Paul Doughty was made Sheriff for the coming year, succeeding outgoing office holder Fiona Fitzpatrick.

York is among the cities in England which has the right to appoint a Sheriff, granted by charter from Richard II in 1396.

Historically, they served as the representative of the monarch at a local level, but the role has evolved over time and is now ceremonial.

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