By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
The new Lord Mayor of Southampton wants to use her year in office to celebrate the city she has called home for almost 50 years, while a Portswood councillor has been elected sheriff.
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The new Lord Mayor of Southampton wants to use her year in office to celebrate the city she has called home for almost 50 years.
Pat Evemy was elected the 804th mayor and fifth Lord Mayor of Southampton at a Guildhall ceremony on Wednesday, May 20.
The councillor for Banister and Polygon takes over the civic responsibility from James Baillie.
From left: Lord Mayor of Southampton Pat Evemy, children’s mayor of Southampton Laramie Guzman Aldana and sheriff Kat Barbour. Photo: SCC
Cllr Evemy told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I want to celebrate Southampton.
“I think all too often people are moaning about what’s not right about Southampton, but there is a lot that is right about Southampton.
“I really want us to be able to celebrate our heritage, our culture, our music, but also the innovative and creative things we do in this city, the science and the port.
“There is so much here and I think if people don’t hear about it, they assume it’s not happening.
“I want to really celebrate the city and bring to the fore what this city means to the people who live in it.”
Cllr Evemy moved to the city with her husband Steve in 1979.
She said they initially only planned to stay in Southampton for a year but it has been their home ever since.
The Labour councillor was first elected in 1988 to the Bargate ward, serving two terms before stepping down in 1996.
Cllr Evemy enjoyed a long career working in urban development before returning to elected office on the city council in 2023.
She said being Southampton’s ‘first citizen’ was a “great honour”.
Asked what the city meant to her, the Lord Mayor said: “Southampton is home.
“I’ve worked all over the country and when you come down the Avenue or you’re going round St Denys on the train where you see the water, it’s just coming home.
“I have just loved this place ever since I moved here.
“We came for one year. We have been here for more than 40.”
The Lord Mayor’s chosen charities are Hamble Lifeboat, Mayflower Theatre Trust and SCRATCH (Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship).
Green Party councillor Kat Barbour was elected to the position of sheriff.
Cllr Barbour, who has worked as a social worker in the city, said: “It’s a great honour to hold this traditional role, and as the first Green Party councillor to hold it, I will bring our values of environmentalism, inclusivity and community involvement to the role wherever possible.”
Laramie Guzman Aldana was selected to represent the youth of Southampton for the year ahead as the new children’s mayor.
In her role, she will bring forward her Board Games, Books and Biscuits project to combat loneliness and improve people’s quality of life.
The children’s mayor said: “The project brings children and older people together to play games, read and enjoy biscuits.
“I hope this will mean less screen time for children, improving their social skills and confidence, whilst providing opportunities to spend time with older people, sharing fun and enjoyable experiences together.”
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