Mayor keen to expand community engagement

Natalie Byron-Teare and her deputy Councillor Peter Washington will serve for the next year

Natalie Byron-Teare has been unanimously re-elected to serve as Mayor of Douglas City Council for a second year.

She is the first woman to serve two consecutive terms as mayor in the Council's 128-year history.

Mrs Byron-Teare was elected unopposed having served in the role for the last year.

Speaking at her swearing-in ceremony, she said it was a "great honour" to be selected to continue in the role.

After dedicating a portion of her first term as mayor to engaging with schools and youth groups, Mrs Byron-Teare said it was "integral for any elected official to be accessible and approachable".

"I fully intend to continue with the community engagement theme, working with local schools and supporting charities, as well as raising awareness about the role of the Council and mayor and what we do," she said.

'Really proud'

A total of £3,000 was raised in her first year in the role, which was recently donated to the chosen charities for the year, the RNLI, Isle of Man Parrot Sanctuary and Live at Home.

Money raised in the forthcoming year would be split between Naseem’s Manx Brain Tumour Charity, the Manx Housing Trust and Samaritans Isle of Man.

The last 12 months have also seen Douglas welcome Queen Camilla to the island's only city, an experience Mrs Byron-Teare said was an "nerve-racking".

"She was very kind, very sweet and the welcome she was given outside made me really proud to be from Douglas and really proud to be Manx," she added.

Serving as Mayor’s chaplain for a second successive term will be Reverend Monsignor John Devine OBE, Dean of the Catholic Church in the Isle of Man and Cathedral Church of St Mary of the Isle.

Mrs Byron-Teare will be supported by her consort, her husband Mr Andrew Teare and Councillor Peter Washington will serve as Deputy Mayor.

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