Worthing’s new mayor pledges to help town return to ‘some form of normal’

Lionel Harman was voted in as the new First Citizen of the seaside town during an online meeting of the annual council on Tuesday (May 26).

He has replaced Hazel Thorpe, with Sean McDonald named as his deputy.

Councillors were left twiddling their thumbs for a few moments while the new mayor nipped off screen to don his chain of office.

He returned ‘properly dressed’ and spoke of his pride at being chosen to serve during such unprecedented times.

Mr Harman said: “During my mayoralty, I’m looking forward to working with companies, groups, individuals from our great town to help us return to some form of normal.

“With all the good will and selfless acts of kindness displayed over the past few months, I wish to encourage all of us to continue to show the respect for others and build a better society for everybody now and in the future.

‘I intend to use my mayoral term doing everything I can to make this happen.’

The new mayor chose three local charities to support – Worthing Mencap’s Buddy’s drop-in centre and information hub, Worthing Sea Cadets and The Worthing Society.

Looking back on her year as mayor, Mrs Thorpe said she had attended some 300 face-to-face engagements, meeting ‘extraordinary people’ and raising more than £15,000 for her chosen charities.

Wishing Mr Harman and his wife – fellow councillor Karen Harman – ‘every success’ for the coming year, she said she hoped everyone could support them through ‘what will be  a testing time for all of us to keep the flag flying’.

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