Meet your new Lord Mayor of Bristol

Bristol is honoured to have Councillor Paul Goggin, from the Labour Party’s Hartcliffe and Withywood ward, as their Lord Mayor.

 

Alongside him is Councillor Paula O’Rourke, from the Green Party’s Clifton ward, who will serve as Deputy Lord Mayor until 2024. This appointment dates back to Queen Victoria granting Bristol this special distinction in 1899.

 

Each year in May, Full Council elects Bristol’s Lord Mayor. The title must be held by a serving councillor with each of the political groups taking turns to have representation every year. After their time as Lord Mayor has come to an end they can proceed on to become the Deputy Lord Mayor for another 12 months (with no limit on the number of times they can hold either role).

 

What does the Lord Mayor do?

The Lord Mayor is mainly a ceremonial role and whoever holds the position is classed as the ‘First Citizen of Bristol’ and carries out around 800 engagements a year. These range from major civic events such as the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations to visiting local communities and organisations.

 

Every year, the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Appeal for Children helps hundreds of children in Bristol with vouchers for food, toys and clothing. The appeal is run by Rotary, Round Table and Lions Clubs with the Lord Mayor as the appeal’s patron.

 

The role has strong links with faith groups, the armed forces, schools, and universities. The role also requires the Lord Mayor to chair council meetings such as the Full Council meeting. If the Lord Mayor is unavailable, then the Deputy Lord Mayor will support engagements and step up into the role where needed.

 

How can I contact the Lord Mayor?

 

Check the Lord Mayor’s diary if you’d like to find out about the Lord Mayor’s public engagements.

 

If you would like the Lord Mayor to attend something that you are planning, then you can invite them to an event or meeting.

 

For all other enquiries, you can email: lordmayor@bristol.gov.uk.

 

You can read more stories like this in Bristol Weekly Magazine here