Mayors from Shrewsbury and Oswestry begin their year in office

Councillor Jane Mackenzie was named Mayor of Shrewsbury during a ceremony at the town's Music Hall this week, while Councillor Vince Hunt was named the new mayor of Oswestry.

"I'm so proud to be given the opportunity to represent this wonderful, historic town," Councillor Mackenzie said.

"This is a time of change and fearfulness about the future.

"At times like this we need to show tolerance for others.

"This year I'd like to celebrate diversity and recognise that by working together, we as a town and community can achieve more.

"We are better together – breaking down barriers, not building them."

Her charities this year will be the Shropshire Recovery Partnership, based in Saint Mary's Street, Shrewsbury, and Addaction.

Both charities aim to help those suffering with drug and alcohol addiction.

"Addiction tears families apart, and the cost to the individual and society is vast," Councillor Mackenzie said.

"I'd like to challenge the stigma around addiction and shine a light on this problem.

"Add Action helps someone be the best they can be. It might be drug and alcohol abuse, or worries about their mental health, but this group help people make lasting changes to their lives.

"Shropshire Recovery Partnership offers information, advise and support for adult and young people with drug and alcohol issues."

Councillor Kevin Pardy said: "Jane will give all of herself to the office, and, as with everything else she touches, it will be the people that benefit."

Councillor Vince Hunt was named Mayor of Oswestry, and has been a member of Oswestry Town Council for seven years.

Before that was both a member of Oswestry Borough Council and Oswestry Rural Parish Council. He is also a Shropshire Council member.

"I feel it is a help to be part of both councils and we are lucky at Oswestry Town Council to have four members who are also on Shropshire Council," he said.

"It is a very busy time of Oswestry at the moment. We have the Market Towns Partnership up and running as well as the Oswestry Townscape Group.

"There is also the Business Improvement District initiative which will see businesses take part in a referendum probably in the latter half of the year."

Councillor Hunt said he would be very proud to be part of the commemorations of the 100 year anniversary of World War One.

"In Oswestry we will also be marking the town as the birthplace of Wilfred Owen with a statue erected in Cae Glas Park to the war poet," he said.

Councillor Hunt's mayoress is his daughter, Amber, who celebrated her 15th birthday on Saturday.

"She is certainly the youngest Mayoress that Oswestry has seen and one of the youngest in the country," he added.

"I am very keen to get involved in projects to help young people in the town."