Cllr Ceri Cawley wore her Mayoral robes for the first time at Redcar Civic Centre in a special ceremony this morning (Thursday 28 May).
The mother-of-three has lived in Dormanstown, Redcar, since she was 12 years old and has represented the area as a Labour councillor since 2015.
She explained that her family returned to Dormanstown, where her father was born, following her dad’s career as one of Redcar’s first professional flat jockeys.
Mayor, Cllr Cawley, 43, attended West Redcar Secondary School and Sir William Turner’s College, gaining diplomas in sports therapy, nutrition and aromatherapy along with several other sports-related qualifications. As a teenager, she worked at gym which broadened her martial arts knowledge and she achieved her first dan (black belt) in karate at the age of 16.
She has always taken a big interest in her community and was involved in supporting families when the steelworks closed in 2015.
She said: “When the works closed, I wanted to try and help my fellow councillors, and that was when the Teesside Steel Appeal was born, helping more than 300 families have a Christmas that year.”
She has also been a member of the Inspiring Women Awards since 2015 which celebrates the many great women of the area.
The new mayor successfully campaigned for the council to become the first endometriosis-friendly local authority in the north of England last year. She was diagnosed with the condition in her early 20s and has struggled with severe pain.
She will raise money for the Chris Cave Foundation, established by Redcar mother Theresa Cave in memory of her son, Chris, who died after being stabbed. The charity supports families affected by violent crime, works with the probation service and campaigns against knife crime, including educating young people in schools.
Mayor Cawley will also raise funds for Morgan House in Boosbeck, east Cleveland. Morgan House is a dedicated centre which supports military veterans who may be struggling after their service to become “healthier heroes”. It is named in honour of Sam Morgan, a much-loved Royal Marine veteran from Guisborough whose life was cut short by suicide last year.
Mayor, Cllr Cawley said:
“I am proud to support these two fantastic charities and help raise much-needed funds so they can continue their important work. To be elected as Mayor is a great honour and privilege and I look forward to being a good ambassador for our area.”
The councillor was previously Deputy Mayor. Her consort will be her husband, Christian.
The new Deputy Mayor is Cllr Adam Brook who represents the Grangetown ward and will be supported by his wife, Carly. Outgoing Mayor, Cllr Ian Hart, congratulated both of them on their new roles