Schoolgirl Anna grows into the role of town mayor

Anna, 11, was selected as this year’s Little Mayor for a Day and spent last Thursday accompanying the Mayor , Coun Shaun Wright, in his duties.

After being fitted in her mayoral robes, Anna attended events including Fair’s Fayre at Magna and also had a tour of Main Street police station.

The tradition of having a Little Mayor in Rotherham has now reached its 21st birthday –in its modern incarnation at least.

A spokesman for Rotherham Council said: “The tradition of Little Mayor for the Day, which was resurrected over two decades ago, originally came about when, in his will, Archbishop Thomas Rotherham left church vestments for the use of a ‘child Bishop’ at the college named after him.

“Since then, his benevolent request has morphed into the event which it is today, where the name of one fortunate school pupil is chosen randomly out of a hat to take the role of Rotherham’s most important dignitary for a single day.

“Now organised by the council’s events and promotions service, Little Mayor for the Day has gone from strength to strength and kept the tradition alive with visits to dozens of fantastic attractions which Rotherham has to offer.”