Liverpool has got a new Lord Mayor

Liverpool’s new Lord Mayor is being sworn in on Wednesday 25 May.

Cllr Roy Gladden grew up above his grandma’s chip shop on Breckfield Road in Everton, attending Granton Road Junior School.

He joined the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment at the age of 17, and was discharged in 1967.

At the age of 40, he studied for a social work degree from Liverpool John Moores University, and began working for the council as a social worker in Everton, until his retirement in 2010.

Cllr Gladden was first elected in Clubmoor in 1982, and chaired the Libraries and Arts Committee and was also Vice Chair of Social Services, serving as a councillor until 1987.

He returned as a councillor for County in 2010, and has chaired the Culture, Tourism and Visitor Economy Select Committee for the last three years.

Roy married his late wife Irene Mooney in 1968 and they had four children together. Sadly, Irene passed away in 1985 aged just 36, after a short illness.

In 1990, Roy married Roz, who had three children, and the couple now also have ten grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

As a veteran, Roy has, for many years, supported personnel from the Armed Forces, Reservists, the Merchant Navy and their families and became the Armed Forces Champion for Liverpool City Council in 2018.

Cllr Gladden has been an active trade unionist all his working life within the GMB and Unison, and was fulltime convenor and chair of the council’s Joint Trade Union Committee.

Roy’s wife, Cllr Roz Gladden – who was previously Lord Mayor in 2016/17 – will be Lady Mayoress, with his daughters all willing and able to stand in at any time.

Roy with wife Roz

Cllr Gladden’s charities will be:

• Options for Supported Living – a local organisation existing to support, empower and enable people with disabilities to live their lives to the full.
• South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services – which has delivered a range of services and support to approximately 4,000 women since 2010.
• Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) – which supports 2,500 women and girls affected by domestic abuse and violence every year.
• Veterans HQ Liverpool – which supports ex-armed forces personnel, reservists and their families

If you think you can help raise money for The Lord Mayor’s Charities please contact Liverpool Town Hall by emailing town.hall@liverpool.gov.uk or by visiting liverpooltownhall.co.uk/lmca to donate.

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool is known as the first citizen and is the chosen representative of the city, acting as a focal point for the community as well as promoting the city and forging national and international links. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool is always a serving councillor, elected by the full city council at its Annual General Meeting held each May, and stands for one year in office.

The Lord Mayor’s duties include:

• Representing the city at civic functions/engagements
• Promoting the city nationally and internationally
• Supporting local charities and community groups
• Attending religious events of all denominations
• Meeting delegates from twinned cities
• Chairing council meetings
• Conferring Honorary Freemen and Freedom of Associations and Institutions.

Lord Mayor elect, Cllr Roy Gladden, said:

“To represent my city and its remarkable people is the proudest, yet most daunting, moment of my life.

“The city has changed beyond recognition over my lifetime, from a city of largely manufacturing jobs, to the dreadful slump and unemployment of the 1980’s. Liverpool is now reborn and is developing its strength as an outward looking, regenerating city which needs tourism at its heart.

“My experience and knowledge within the Culture and Visitor Economy Select Committee will enable me as Lord Mayor, to be an ambassador and represent our city to the many visitors, both national and international and display our greatest asset, our people and its history.

“The theme of my Lord Mayoral year will be ‘change’ and I have chosen local charities which will represent how our city has changed in its perception and culture throughout my lifetime.”