'Potteries lass' Jean sees mayoral role as privilege
The 66-year-old ward member for Northwood and Birches Head replaces councillor Derek Capey in the ceremonial role.
Miss Bowers, who had been deputy Lord Mayor, was formally nominated for the role by current party leader, councillor Kieran Clarke, pictured.
He said: "She is a Potteries lass through and through. Her family has lived here and she spent five years in the pottery industry."
He added she had gone on to work in adult social care for many years before finally becoming an education welfare officer in the city.
Miss Bowers's election was unopposed, although the BNP group and some non-aligned members abstained from voting.
She named her 27-year-old niece Sabrina Bowers, of Baddeley Green, as her Lady Mayoress to accompany her on civic engagements during her year in office.
And she also chose two good causes – Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Child Victims of Crime – as her mayoral charities for the year.
She said: "It is a great privilege to serve as Lord Mayor; it's something I never envisaged when I became a councillor nine years ago.
"I would like to thank members for their support and for placing their confidence in me to be an ambassador for the city, especially during the centenary year for the city in 2010."
She also thanked her predecessor, Mr Capey, and his wife Joyce for their commitment and dedication.
Mr Capey also thanked the council for giving him the opportunity to represent the city at more than 600 civic events over the past year.
He said: "It has been a wonderful honour and I have really enjoyed it. I always intended to get the most out of the year.
"I have attended 642 engagements, but I never felt that I didn't want to do any more."
Mr Capey said the highlight of his time in office had been the three successive days in July last year when he met former Olympic athlete-turned-politician Lord Coe, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Brazilian football legend Pele.
He ended his speech with an appeal to fellow councillors for greater unity, saying: "As councillors, we have to sort things out from now on and I hope we will stick together as best we can."
There was also praise for outgoing elected mayor Mark Meredith, whose term in office ends on Monday.
Councillor Roger Ibbs said: "He has served this city well for four years in very difficult times.
"Whatever our differences, Mark always did his best for the city."
And Labour Councillor Adrian Knapper said: "Mark has laid the foundations for the start of the regeneration of the city and hopefully we can now all come together and ensure Stoke-on-Trent moves forward in the best way possible."
Mr Meredith said afterwards he was pleased with the council's choice of Ross Irving as leader.
He said: "I have worked closely with Ross in the cabinet and he has earned a great deal of respect and embraced the vision for the city that I have tried to create and I'm sure that vision is safe in his hands."
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AN HONOUR: Former Lib Dem leader Jean Bowers is the new Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. She received the chains of office from outgoing Lord Mayor Derek Capey yesterday. Picture: Neil Hulse
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