A new mayor

3:11pm Tuesday 22nd May 2001

A NEW Gravesham mayor was handed the chains of office at a formal ceremony in the council chamber.

Councillor Valerie Ashenden made the official declaration of acceptance and took the mayoral chair from Cllr Peggy Mersh at the annual council meeting.

Currently representing Coldharbour Ward, Mrs Ashenden has been a councillor since 1995.

The mother-of-two has served on the housing and planning committees and acted as vice-chairman of the environmental health committee.

She said: “I am very much looking forward to being given the honour of representing the borough as mayor and I will carry out my duties in a manner that befits this ancient office.”