Romsey’s new mayor John Ray has said he is proud to be the first citizen of the town where he was born and has lived all his life John received the chain of office from his predecessor Karen Dunleavey at the mayor-making ceremony in Romsey Town Hall on Tuesday evening.

The hairdresser, who runs Kutz salon, paid tribute to his mother saying “I was not an easy teenager.”

“She is one of the main reasons the I that I have arrived at this proud moment.”

He also thanked his wife Rose for her support and remarked that she would make a very elegant mayoress.

Mr Ray said he wanted to see Romsey protected from over development and he would like more to see more done for the youth of the town.

His three charities for the year are Jane Scarth House cancer care centre, Romsey Good Neighbours and George’s Trust, the new charity set up in memory 17-year-old Romsey Abbey chorister George O’Brien who died suddenly from cancer last year.

George’s father, Joe, told the meeting that the Trust had three fundraising aims: to provide scholarships and stipends for teenage choristers who wanted to continue as adult members the choir as George had done; to fund cancer research; and to give grants to youth organisations.

In her speech Karen Dunleavey said she and her husband Alex had enjoyed her year in office greatly.

“Alex and I have met so many people and been made welcome at so many events that we've coined a new collective noun 'A kindness of Romsonians'.” she said.

Mrs Dunleavey said she was constantly impressed by how many groups and organisation there were in the town and and how many people gave up their time to run them.

Her charities for the year had been Jane Scarth House, Opengate Stroke Club and Romsey Opportunity Group.

Due to the generosity of the towns people and a donation from Cllr Mark Cooper's mayor’s fund, she had far exceeded the amount she expected to raise so she was able to make smaller donations to: Romsey Sea Cadets, Allsorts Youth Club, Romsey Youth Council, Romsey and District Scouts, Alice Bell's trip to Russia, Romsey Fire Station crew, Romsey Twinning and the Romsey Old Cadets.”

Before handing over the chain of office, Mrs Dunleavey had presented the Mayor’s Environmental Award to the Better Bags For Romsey campaigners who have been working to make the town a plastic bag free zone.

Her town plaque awards went to David and Pat Francis, who have run Romsey Youth Theatre for 22 years; the All Sorts Youth Club for young people with disabilities; and Romsey Guides, Scouts, Army Cadet, Sea Cadets, Air Cadet, Girls and Boys Brigade.

A special presentation was also made to Peter Pearl to mark is 30 years service as mace bearer.

Tuesday’s meeting appointed Cllr Mike Curtis, the council’s longest serving member, to be deputy mayor. He served as mayor in 2003/4.