The newly appointed Mayor of Portland has pledged to do his utmost to represent the people of Portland locally and throughout the county.

Cllr David Thurston was sworn in at a mayor-making ceremony during the annual meeting of Portland Town Council at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

The retiring mayor, Cllr Sandy West, addressed the council before Cllr Thurston was elected and then the new mayor made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and received the Chain of Office.

Later at the annual meeting of Portland Town Council, which was adjourned to the following day, Cllr Thurston said that it had been a very pleasant evening and thanked the rest of the council.

He added: “Lizzy and I will certainly do our utmost to represent A: the Portland Council and B: the people of Portland both locally and throughout the county.”

Elizabeth Thurston is to be Mayoress of Portland as the wife of Cllr Thurston.

Cllr Charlie Flack was elected the new Deputy Mayor of Portland, taking over from Cllr Thurston.

Retiring mayor Cllr Sandy West expressed after the meeting how much she has enjoyed being Mayor of Portland.

She said: “For somebody who has not been born on the island, to be mayor once was fabulous, to have been the mayor twice is a dream really.”

As well as serving as mayor over the past year, Cllr West was also Mayor of Portland from May 2008 to May 2009.
Cllr Thurston has also served as mayor of the island before, from 2009 to 2010.

Cllr West added that she enjoyed everything about the role, including going to various events, taking part in fundraising initiatives and getting to know the other mayors in the area.

One of her favourite moments during her time as mayor, she said, was presenting the medals at the World Sailing Championships 2016 at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.

She wished to thank her mayor’s chaplain, Rev. Christopher Briggs, her mayor’s escort Sally McKinstry and Sir Phillip Williams, who was High Sheriff of Dorset during her term.

Cllr West added that she also had a great relationship with the now former Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Richard Kosior.

She said: “There was no rivalry between us, which sometimes does occur.” 

She also thought Cllr David Thurston would be a very good mayor for Portland.

She said: “You need a sense of humour, which he has got.”

Cllr West intends to continue with the volunteer work she does for various groups and is to volunteer for Bournemouth Pride and Plymouth Pride this year, as well as Dorchester Love Parade.