New Mayor of Kirklees elected

Councillor Eric Firth, who represents the Dewsbury East ward, has been elected to the post.

The eldest of seven children, Coun Firth hails from Dewsbury and has never lived more than two-and-a-half miles from where he was born.

Coun Firth was educated at Springfield Junior and Infant School and later at Batley Carr and Dewsbury Technical School.

At the age of 15 he left school on a Friday and started work on the following Monday as an apprentice painter and decorator.

Coun Firth said that representing Dewsbury East, which is also his home, and working for the people and organisations within it gives him a great deal of satisfaction.

He said: “It is a great honour to be the Mayor of Kirklees and I’m looking forward to meeting the many diverse groups of people and organisations who live and work in our area.”

Coun Christine Iredale, who has represented the Golcar ward since 2003, has joined Coun Firth in the civic team as deputy mayor for 2011-12.

She was born in Kirkheaton and now lives in Milnsbridge.