Ex-firefighter named new mayor

Coun Robert Windass, who joined Leeds City Fire Brigade in 1964 and worked his way up to become deputy watch commander before retiring in 1995, has been revealed as the new mayor of the Borough of Harrogate following a meeting this week.

Coun Windass, a keen fisherman and grandfather-of-five, was elected on to Boroughbridge Town Council in 1998.

He served as deputy mayor in 2001/2 and mayor in 2002/3 and 2007/8, and remains a member of the town council.

The appointment means he is the first district mayor from Boroughbridge since Dr Stanley Hazel 21 years ago.

His wife Sylvia will become the new mayoress, while Coun Martin Leather, of Ouseburn Ward, and his wife Helen have been nominated to act as deputy mayor and deputy mayoress.

The borough’s four new civic heads will be sworn in for a 12 month term of office at Harrogate Borough Council’s annual meeting on May 21.

Coun Les Ellington, who has occupied the mayoral role for the past year, will step down.