New Mayor Appointed For Eastbourne

Friday, 21 May 2021 06:00

By Huw Oxburgh - Local Democracy Reporter

A long-serving councillor has been named as the new mayor of Eastbourne.

On Wednesday (May 19), Upperton councillor Pat Rodohan (Lib Dem) was appointed the town’s new mayor for the coming year, while his fellow Lib Dem Helen Burton was named deputy mayor.

Councillor Rodohan takes over from Steve Wallis, who has been the mayor for two years alongside deputy mayor Sammy Choudhury who is also stepping down after two years.

Speaking at the council’s annual meeting, Cllr Rodohan said:

“I was a frequent visitor to Eastbourne in the late 60s and 70s. My family and I moved here at the end of 1971 and I am honoured and proud to be chosen mayor of Eastbourne for the next year.

“I still love many of the architectural features around the town, walking along our beautiful seafront and up on the Downs and visiting the stunning countryside that surrounds us.

“Eastbourne has so much to offer its residents and visitors and now we have the Devonshire Quarter open at the right time to help us support the expansion of our main industries; tourism and conferencing.

“During Covid our town was hit and hit very hard, but with the lockdown beginning to ease our future is very bright. Let’s show the country that Eastbourne is the place to be.”

Annual Meeting May 19

Cllr Rodohan went name three charities, which are to benefit from his mayoral fundraising activities.

They are:

Amaze: A charity which supports families with special educational needs and disabilities
Community Wise: The group behind the community centre in Ocklynge Road
Holding Space: A charity providing family mental health support

At the same meeting St Anthony’s councillor Helen Burton was appointed deputy mayor.

Cllr Burton said:

“Thank you for the honour you have bestowed on me this evening and the trust you have placed in me.

“I am very much looking forward to supporting our new mayor in his work over the next year and helping to fundraise for his chosen charities.

“There are hundreds of amazing organisations in Eastbourne doing vital work in our town and a lot of businesses which need us to champion them. So I am really honoured to be able to do that in my new role as deputy mayor.”