Councillor John Nelson has been sworn in as Amber Valley's new Mayor becoming the first councillor to be made Borough Mayor for a second term. The 70 year old Councillor for Belper was handed the chain of office at the Council's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 May by the outgoing Mayor, Ron Ashton.

Cllr Nelson becomes the Borough's 24th Mayor, having served as a Borough Councillor since 1988, and previously as Mayor in 2000/2001. He is also currently Leader of Belper Town Council for whom he has also served twice as Mayor for Belper and spearheads the town's annual Britain in Bloom campaign.

John spent most of his life building his Belper based haulage firm which he established and ran for over 45 years and which now employs 30 people from its Goods Road depot in Belper. John is married to Maureen, and has two sons and two grandchildren.

The Mayor's chosen fundraising activities will support the Mini Olympics, an event which successfully builds sporting and cultural links between young people in Amber Valley and some of the Borough's Twin and partnership districts, towns and provinces througout Europe. On the news of his appointment as Mayor, Councillor John Nelson said: "It's a tremendous honour to represent Amber Valley Borough Council as Mayor for the second time! I am looking forward to promoting the Borough and supporting the Mini Olympics, which has become a fantastic vehicle for sporting and cultural links with our friends in Europe."

The new Deputy Mayor is councillor for Heage and Ambergate, Angela Ward.

Photographs are available on request.
For further information please contact Luke Barrett Communications Manager on 01773 841 655 or email luke.barrett@ambervalley.gov.uk