Kettering Council elects the borough's last mayor

Kettering Council has elected the borough's last mayor before the new unitary council comes into force in April 2021.

Cllr James Burton, the Conservative representative for All Saints ward, was elected mayor at the council's annual meeting on September 15. His consort will be his wife, Lorraine Burton.

Cllr Burton said: "I had the honour of becoming mayor in 2017-2018 and I am delighted to serve another term as the last borough mayor."

A deputy mayor was also elected. Cllr Duncan Bain, Conservative representative of Pipers Hill, will serve in this role.

On April 1, 2021, the borough councils of Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, and East Northants will be replaced by new North Northamptonshire unitary authority, making Cllr Burton the last Kettering borough mayor.

He said: "I am the fifth generation of the Burtons to make Kettering their home, and I am an antique dealer and market trader by profession. The borough of Kettering has been a big part of my life and I believe that this is my way of giving something back."

Cllr Burton has chosen the KGH Twinkling Stars Appeal as his charity for his term of office and will be holding fundraisers throughout the year.

The Twinkling Stars Appeal is raising money to provide a bereavement room, family room, quiet room and office for parents suffering the trauma of losing their baby. KGH's current facilities are within the Labour Suite, where bereaved families can be surrounded by those with newborns

Cllr Burton's term of office will be very different due to the coronavirus pandemic, but hopes he will be able to host fundraising events to support the cause.

The mayor said he wishes all the residents of the borough of Kettering the very best health, and knows that the residents of Kettering will stand strong and support one another in these trying times.

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