Meet the youngest mayor in Worthing's history

Alex Harman, 23, will become the youngest mayor in Worthing Borough Council’s 127-year history – but the council believes he will also be the most youthful to perform the civic role in any borough in the UK.

He said: “It’s a great privilege to be Mayor of Worthing. It’s a fantastic borough and I’m extremely proud to represent it.

“Obviously I’m a little bit younger to other mayors and I want to bring a little bit of an energy to the role that wasn’t there before.

“I don’t think being 23 makes me too young for the job; it just means I’m a little different.

“The town is changing, you can see that with the demographics in that it is becoming a lot younger and a lot older too. I want to represent that in everything that I do.”

Alex moved to Worthing seven years ago and took an apprenticeship in business administration with West Sussex County Council and Northbrook College upon leaving Worthing College.

He will take a year out of work to fully focus on his civic duties.

He will be accompanied at his various engagements by wife, Fran, who works in finance for Worthing High School. They married in September last year.

Alex, who was elected to represent Selden ward in 2015, said: “I am looking forward to meeting as many members of the community as I can across the next year and promoting some of the great things that happen within the borough.”

The annual mayor-making ceremony will take place tomorrow at Worthing Town Hall from 12pm.