Lancaster’s new mayor-elect and 'Father of the Council' named

Coun Roger Dennison is the new mayor-elect and will be officially voted into office on Friday.

Coun Dennison replaces the previous mayor-elect, his Morecambe Bay Independent colleague Tricia Heath, who lost her seat in the recent local elections.

He is a city councillor for Torrisholme and is currently the council's Armed Forces Champion as well as being a member of Morecambe Town Council.

He will be mayor of Lancaster for 12 months, replacing Coun Joyce Pritchard.

Recently-elected Bare councillor Martin Bottoms, also a Morecambe Bay Independent, will be deputy mayor.

Also on Friday, Coun Robert Redfern will be appointed as the new 'Father of the Council'.

Coun Redfern, a Labour councillor for Skerton, has earned the title of 'Father' as the member of the council with the longest unbroken service.

He will replace Abbott Bryning, who stepped down as a councillor before the recent elections.

Mr Bryning had been on the council since 1967 and will be officially awarded the Honorary Freedom of the City of Lancaster on Friday.

He became a councillor when he was a 35-year-old lecturer at Lancaster and Morecambe College.

But after representing first Bulk ward and then Skerton East for 56 years, he called it a day last month at the age of 91.

The new appointments will be made at Lancaster Town Hall, where a mayor-making ceremony will take place.

Past members of Lancaster City Council will also be admitted to the Roll of Honorary Aldermen of the City of Lancaster.