Mayor looking forward to busy year in office
by JULIE-ANN SPENCE
The new Mayor,
Councillor Trevor Lunn, with his
wife Laureen.
US26-861SP
LISBURN'S new first citizen, Councillor
Trevor Lunn, is looking forward to his year as the city's Mayor
after serving his "apprenticeship" last year as Deputy Mayor.
He will have a momentous year ahead of him
as, not only has he become Lisburn's Mayor, but he is also
celebrating his 60th birthday this week and his 35th wedding
anniversary in August.
Mr Lunn was first elected to represent
Lisburn Town North in 2001. He joined the Alliance Party in 1993
and stood for election three times before being elected. Since
then he has made his seat one of the safest in the city.
He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as
one of the busiest Deputy Mayors Lisburn has ever had.
"Thanks to the good offices of Jonathan
Craig, I was able to serve a very useful apprenticeship as
Deputy Mayor, which was invaluable," said Mr Lunn.
"I was probably one of the busiest Deputy
Mayors for some years but at the end of the day I was only doing
what the Mayor asked of me.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am hoping to
enjoy my time as Mayor just as much." Despite only having been
in the top post for
a few days, Mr Lunn has already got a taste
of what the year ahead will hold.
"I was very busy over my first weekend in
office," he said. "I was at the Down Royal Races on Saturday, I
attended the RAMS open day at the Fire Station and then I
attended the Mayor's Installation Dinner at Belfast City Hall on
Saturday evening. On Sunday I attended two Somme commemoration
ceremonies.
"My wife has also had a taste of what is to
come and I know she is very much looking forward to assisting
me."
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The new Mayor,
Councillor Trevor Lunn, and the deputy Mayor,
Councillor Jim Tinsley. US26-862SP |
Looking forward to the year ahead, Mr Lunn
said there are a number of developments in the city that he is
eager to see progress.
"In terms of economic development, I want to
try to continue the good work that has already been done," he
said.
"I am very much in favour of John Lewis at
Sprucefield and I am looking forward to further progress being
made at the Maze. I am also keen to see progress in the
developments at Blaris and Young Street.
"I am still Chairman of the Historic Quarter
Partnership and I think it is important not to lose sight of our
history," he added.
Mr Lunn also said he intended to continue
with initiatives instigated by the previous Mayor, Councillor
Jonathan Craig, including cultivating relationships with
community groups, implementing the government's `Shared Future'
document, continuing with the volunteering awards and inviting
schoolchildren into the Mayor's parlour to learn more about
local government.
He added: "I am hoping that Lisburn City
Council can set a standard of co-operation which will serve as
an example to the community at large."
He concluded by thanking his colleagues for
electing him.
"1 am grateful to my council colleagues for
putting their trust in me for the year to come and I certainly
hope to be the Mayor for everyone," he said.
"As far as I am concerned, once you attain
the office of Mayor, you leave politics behind for a year and I
will be available to any group or organisation that cares to ask
me and there is no part of the city area that I would not attend
if asked," he concluded.
Parkinson's Disease Association chosen as
mayoral charity
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LISBURN'S new Mayor, Councillor
Trevor Lunn, has chosen the Parkinson's Disease
Association as his Mayoral Charity for the year
ahead.
The Lisburn branch of the charity
has recently become a charitable group in its own
right, after many years as a support group for the
parent charity.
Explaining his reasons for
choosing the charity, Mr Lunn said: "My charity for
the year is the Parkinson's Disease Association.
"There has been a support group in Lisburn for that
charity for some years. At the same time I was
considering a charity for the year they decided to
set themselves up as a fully fledged group in their
own right.
"I think it is a worthy cause and
as a new charity in Lisburn I believe we tan help to
get them off to a good start with money that will be
used locally.
"Parkinson's Disease is a
dreadful affliction and everyone knows someone who
suffers from it.
"One of our former Councillors,
Ned Falloon, has Parkinson's Disease and I feel it
is a very appropriate charity," he concluded. |
