Cllr Jim Kelly and his wife Elizabeth have been installed as the new Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham at a special ceremony at the Guildhall.
Cllr Kelly, who takes over from Cllr Arwel Gwynn Jones as Mayor, has been a county borough councilor for the Borras ward since 1999 also serving as a community councilor for Acton for over 25 years. Jim was born in Wexford, Ireland and moved to Wrexham in 1964 to set up a plastic packaging unit on the Industrial Estate.
His hobbies include squash and playing with his two-year-old Grandson.
Cllr Kelly spoke of his pride at being chosen to become the new Mayor of Wrexham.
“It is a privilege to have such an honour bestowed upon you. It is also an honour to have the support of the whole council and hopefully I can do my best,” said Cllr Kelly.
“It is a tremendous honour. It is a privilege and an honour that your fellow councillors put some trust in you and you pray that you don’t misplace that trust.”
“When we first came here, Wrexham was a lovely market town, the beast market was the place to go on a Monday and everyone came from surrounding areas. I have seen Wrexham grow and develop over the years and I believe it is a tremendous town. It is now the premier town in North Wales and the whole area is buzzing.”
“I have always been involved in the community and cathedral parish here in Wrexham. I have been heavily involved in community work ever since I was a teenager back in Ireland and to some extent this is just an extension of it. It is about getting out and being involved in the community, meeting and listening to people and helping people to help themselves and sometimes having the will to knock on doors that people might not be willing to knock on.”
The new Mayor was also full of praise for his predecessor, Cllr Arwel Gwynn Jones and his wife Mair, for their fundraising and campaigning efforts over the previous year.
Jim Kelly added:
“They have left me a hard task to follow. Arwel and Mair have worked tirelessly for their nominated charities throughout the year. And they have set standards for me and the new deputy mayor to attain and achieve.
“My aims and targets are very much continuing the good work that Arwel has done during his tenure as Mayor. During his time as Mayor he has worked very hard. It is about being the civic face of the authority, it isn’t me that people see when you go out as Deputy or Mayor, it is the face of the authority. People appreciate it when someone gives up their time to go out into the community, visit the elderly or support local businesses.
“Wrexham is thriving and has very much to look forward to over the next year. We have the refurbishment of our three secondary schools coming along; we have the preparation for the National Eisteddfod. More tourists will be coming to the area now that Pontcysyllte is a World Heritage Site.”
Cllr Kelly also revealed his nominated charities for his year as Mayor. He added:
“I’ve nominated two main charities. One is called the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust which I have been involved with for many years. It is a trust that was founded in 1954 by a doctor who took four youngsters to Lourdes and now the charity has extended worldwide. We have a group in Wrexham which has taken a number of children to Lourdes over the years.
“The second is the St Vincent de Paul Society which I have been involved with for well over 50 years and that is again about helping families, individuals and people who are burdened with the trials and tribulations of life over the years.”
If you would like the Mayor to attend an event or occasion please contact the Civic Support Officer on 01978 292276 or email [email protected].
