Corby installs its new mayoral party

Cllr Julie Riley was last night given her ceremonial chain at a mayor making ceremony at the Corby Cube and said that she knew she could rely on the support of the ‘wonderful’ people of Corby.

Cllr Riley was elected as a Labour councillor in May 2015 and will take over the role of mayor for the next year from Cllr Peter McEwan. Her consort will be her husband, Bob Riley.

Fellow Labour member Cllr Matt Keane was confirmed as the new deputy mayor.

The mayor’s charities will be the air ambulance and the Travers Foundation.

In her acceptance speech, Cllr Riley said: “I would like to thank the former mayor, Cllr Peter McEwan, for his help and guidance during my term as deputy mayor.

“My theme this year is ‘children are our future.’ With this in mind, my chosen charities are The Northamptonshire & Warwickshire Air Ambulance service, with a particular interest in the Baby Ambulance & Paediatric Ambulance.

“This is a new service where any baby who needs special care who does not live near a hospital specialising in their care. The specialist team and equipment are either flown to them, or the bigger air ambulance can take both parents and the child to the necessary hospital.

“My second charity is the Travers Foundation. This is a local charity that helps to fund and support children who are gifted, not academically, but have special talents and ambitions in the arts and music or in the sports arena. This helps to fund their further education and training for their future career.

“I know that I can rely on my fellow councillors and the wonderful people of Corby to support me in this. I look forward to seeing all my council colleagues supporting these charities with me.”