Beeston & Holbeck’s Councillor Congreve is new Lord Mayor

Councillor David Congreve has been officially confirmed as the Lord Mayor of Leeds for 2014/2015.

Unanimously supported by all parties at the council’s annual meeting, Cllr Congreve, who is the 121st Lord Mayor of the city, takes over the role from previous incumbent Thomas Murray.

Originally born in Halifax, Cllr Congreve, who has served the city as a councillor for over 24 years, representing the old Beeston ward and more recently the Beeston & Holbeck ward following re-organisation. Previously worked for British Gas as a Senior Productivity Services Officer and Bereavement Services Manager at Bradford Metropolitan Council until his retirement in 2004.

A keen cyclist and speedway fan, the new Lord Mayor, who also enjoys Ornithology, local history, walking, genealogy and ballroom dancing, is set to have a year never to forget with upcoming events including Armed Forces Day on June 28 and the arrival of the Grand Départ on 5 July.

Accompanying the Lord Mayor as his Lady Mayoress will be Janet Harper JP, who until stepping down in May 2014 also represented Leeds as a city councillor for 20 years.

The Lord Mayor’s chosen charity for the forthcoming year is the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor David Congreve said:

“It is an enormous honour and privilege for me to have the opportunity to represent our great city as Lord Mayor for the next year, which is something I could never have dreamt of.

“Both Janet and I simply cannot wait for our civic engagements to begin, and throughout the year we will be raising money for our chosen charity the Leeds Children’s Hospital Appeal who do such a great job supporting and caring for young people.”