A VETERAN councillor has become Darlington’s new mayor after he was formally handed the chains of office tonight (Thursday, May 16).

Charles Johnson, who represents the Hummersknott ward, was given the keys to the parlour by outgoing mayor Paul Baldwin at Darlington Borough Council’s annual meeting.

The 72-year-old initially joined the authority as a Conservative councillor in 1976, where he served alongside five others on the old West ward, now split into Hummersknott, Mowden, College and Park West.

He worked as an engineer for a number of companies, including Darlington firm, Whessoe, and left the council in 1983 to work in South Africa, before becoming managing director of Hamon UK – a leading contractor for power station cooling towers and feed heating plant.

After opening a number of offices around the country, including a manufacturing facility on Teesside, he retired in 2000 and rejoined the council in 2003 as ward member for Hummersknott.

Coun Johnson met wife, Carol, 70, who will act as consort during his year as mayor, in 1958. They married in 1962 and have two children, Nathan, 43, and Fay, 38, and three grandchildren.

Coun Johnson, who also served as Chairman of eVOLution and Chairman of Age UK Darlington, said he was extremely proud to be chosen as mayor.

“It is a huge honour,” he said. “All those years ago when I first joined the council, I never in a million years thought I would become mayor.”

He said he is looking forward to championing civic tradition and the heritage of Darlington during his year in office, in particular celebrating the Covered Market’s 150th anniversary, and is planning a number of art, music and cultural events around the borough for residents, schools and churches to get involved with.

The new mayor was nominated by friend and colleague, Heather Scott, and seconded by council leader, Bill Dixon.

Coun Scott said: “I am sure he will do everything in his power to promote Darlington as an ideal place to live and work. I wish them a very successful year in office.”

Outgoing mayor, Labour Councillor, Paul Baldwin, said he and his wife, Kim, have had a great year as mayor and mayoress, and paid tribute to the people he has met during his time in office.

“A description of how events made us feel range from amazing, elating, and very humbling at times when attending various voluntary groups, seeing the work they all do, very quietly and always in the background,” he said.

Conservative councillor Gerald Lee, ward member for Heighington, was elected as deputy mayor.