FORMER Oxford City Council leader John Goddard is to be the new Lord Mayor.
The long-serving Liberal Democrat councillor will take over from Labour councillor Mary Clarkson at the mayor-making ceremony at the Town Hall tomorrow night.
Mr Goddard, who has represented the Wolvercote ward for 12 years, said: “I have been elected four times to serve the people of Wolvercote and it’s very satisfying that they have put their trust in me.
“I’m delighted to be chosen as the Lord Mayor, and it’s not my intention to say anything political during my year of office.
“I think the office of Lord Mayor is useful because it’s ceremonial and non-party political – you can represent the city as a whole.”
Mr Goddard’s deputy will be Dee Sinclair, while Colin Cook has been appointed Sheriff.
Mr Goddard lives with his wife Muriel, a painter, and the couple have two grown-up daughters.
The new Lord Mayor studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University’s Corpus Christi College.
Mr Goddard then worked as a history and politics teacher at The Kings School in Canterbury.
He later worked in the Home Office for 16 years, and then worked as a clerk for a House of Lords scrutiny committee for six years.
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