High Peak's first citizens for coming year announced

Published on 15 May 2024

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of High Peak for 2024/25 have been officially appointed at the annual Mayor-making ceremony.

Simmondley Councillor Stewart Gardner and his wife Melissa are taking on the roles of Mayor and Mayoress for the coming year and Dinting Councillor Dom Elliott-Starkey and his husband Ryan are the Deputy Mayor and Consort.

As first citizen of the Borough, the Mayor, supported by the Deputy Mayor, will attend both formal and informal functions throughout the year supporting groups and organisations across the High Peak.

Councillor Gardner, who has lived in Simmondley for 25 years, said he, Melissa and their son Joe enjoy making full use of the walking, running and cycling trails the area has to offer.

He said: "We all love the High Peak so it's a special honour to be able to serve the Borough as Mayor and Mayoress - we are very proud to do so and we're very much looking forward to meeting as many people as possible during our term of office.

"The most rewarding part being a councillor is helping local groups and projects so being able to expand that support from my ward and locality to the wider High Peak is something I'm particularly pleased about."

The Mayor has nominated three charities that he will be supporting - High Peak Community Arts; Glossop Mountain Rescue; and the MS society.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Elliott-Starkey, is also a champion of the area as a member of the Friends of Howard Park and a governor at Dinting C of E Primary School.

He said: "I'm incredibly honoured to be taking this position representing this beautiful place and will work hard for our community."