Macclesfield has a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2022-23, who will champion our town's businesses and charities.

Councillor Fiona Wilson, who was Deputy Mayor for the last year, was appointed Mayor at Macclesfield Town Hall on Monday.

The Macclesfield Town Councillor for Macclesfield South was made Mayor in a ceremony attended by her husband Brian, and her parents.

Our town's new Mayor has had her finger on the pulse in politics for the entirety of her adult life, a quality praised by proposer and Hurdsfield Councillor Sarah Bennett-Wake.

Cllr Wilson prepares to sign her oath as Mayor for 2022-23, being watched by Town Clerk Laura Smith. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"I am proud to nominate Councillor Fiona Wilson," she said.

"It was Fiona who encouraged me to become a Town Councillor, so it feels feel ironic that I now nominating her as Mayor. 

"Fiona has a keen sense of fairness, and a forensic attention to detail which make her an ideal candidate.

"Her interest in politics started in Macclesfield County High School. She then joined the union on her first day of work for a high street bank in Macclesfield, and she quickly became an active union representative.

Cllr Wilson (left) started the meeting as Deputy Mayor, and finished it as Mayor in the red robes, worn in this picture by 2021-22 Mayor Cllr David Edwardes. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"She then became the youngest union president and the second woman to do so, she has always been a trailblazer.

"As a councillor, Fiona works tirelessly for residents. They knock on her doors at midnight. Her husband Brian will testify for that."

"She will get the Middlewood Way lit and the gritting situation sorted, with the help of her fellow councillors."

Fiona was also praised for her diligence and leadership during the recent Macclesfield water pressure crisis, moments before all voted in favour for her to become Mayor.

Fiona with her partner Brian. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News / Alexander Greensmith)

The Head of Research and Economics at Usdaw Union retired in 2018, and devotes her time to Macclesfield charitable trusts, who deal with providing accommodation for elderly people in our town.

Fiona, who is originally from Bolton, but has spent most of her life in Macc, will celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary with Consort Brian Puddicombe this month. Puddicombe is also a councillor, who serves Macclesfield South ward on Cheshire East Council.

As well as being a councillor, Fiona is a manager at Macclesfield charities Fence Trust and Stanley & Brocklehurst Almshouses Trust.

The new Mayor is an avid runner, and volunteer at Macclesfield Park Run. She also recently helped organise the new monthly run for those in Macclesfield affected by cancer.

When they are not working hard in the weekends, both Mayor (right) and Deputy Mayor (right) are fans of Macclesfield FC, being regulars at home games. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News / Alexander Greensmith)

"I am very pleased to unanimously be elected as Macclesfield. It is a very key thing for me to do that I never expected," said Fiona.

"My theme for this year is is our community, stronger together.

"We have so many hard-working volunteers in our town, including all of our town councillors who make a difference. 

"We've worked hard on lovely flower areas and new trees, and play areas."

Town Councillors like Fiona are not paid. The only paid people who are involved in Macclesfield Town Council are staff. Of which are Town Clerk Laura Smith (left), Events and Communities Manager Helena Gowler, alongside Events and Communications Officer Abigail Sherratt. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Macclesfield's Mayor position exists to attend the opening of new businesses, community events and to raise money for charity.

Fiona's first charity for the year is Macclesfield Youth Brass Band, who formed in 2005, allowing people, including those with special needs to benefit from the power of music. 

Her second Mayor Charity is North West air ambulance, who deliver pre-hospital care to the most critically ill. They are entirely donation funded, with no money from the government. 

Fiona will be assisted by new Deputy Mayor Chris Wilcock.

Cllr Chris Wilcock (pictuered) and Cllr Wilson are both Labour councillors, but both Mayor and Deputy Mayor are apolitical roles. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News / Alexander Greensmith)

The youngest person to be appointed Mayor or Deputy in the better part of half-a-decade, Chris is an alumni of Henbury High School and Macclesfield College.

Elected in 2019, the Broken Cross and Upton ward councillor is an ex-delivery driver and insurance worker.

His appointment was witnessed with the support of partner Katie, together they will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this July. They have one daughter.

Proposer and Macclesfield East ward Councillor Mick Warren said of the new Deputy Mayor: "I've been impressed with Chris since he's been on the council. He is very active in his ward area, I watch him on social media get things done. 

Macclesfield Town Council deals with services such as allotments, Christmas Lights, Town Ranger, tourism, Remembrance, play areas and more. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News / Alexander Greensmith)

"He will benefit from being Deputy Mayor, and hopefully Mayor in a few years time. I think he is a very competent young man." 

Seconder and Macclesfield Central ward Councillor Janet Jackson added: "He puts his residents first at all the time. I think he is a tremendous councillor."

Cllr Wilcock himself added: "Fiona will be a fantastic Mayor. I will take my office as Deputy Mayor with gusto and will do as well as I can to ably assist her."

Cllr Wilson gave gifts to the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress. Cllr Wilson is Macclesfield's first female Mayor since 2020. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Outgoing Macclesfield Mayor David Edwardes also gave a rousing speech, congratulating his successors and thanking everyone for what he described as "the proudest year of my life."

The Tytherington councillor and 2021-22 Mayor added: "Macclesfield is no longer a drab old mill town, it is a fun place to live and work."

The retiring Mayor, who will continue as a Macclesfield Town Councillor also revealed the Mill Street Ian Curtis mural as a highlight of his tenure.

"I was absolutely blown away", he said.

"I estimate, very roughly, that with all the coverage, the name of Macclesfield was on the lips of two million people."

Retiring Mayor Cllr David Edwardes revealed showing Peter Hook around Macclesfield, and the response to the Ian Curtis mural, was a highlight of his tenure. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Macclesfield band The Virginmarys, Macclesfield Festival, Armistice Day and retiring Mayoress Natalia Belinskaya were also among Cllr Edwardes' speech.

At the event where the new Mayor and Deputy were confirmed, a Macclesfield architect for South Park's new Pavilion was chosen, and gritting cuts were also debated.

You can read the full minutes when they are uploaded on the Macclesfield Town Council website.

The attendance at the meeting was 21.

If you want the new Mayor of Macclesfield to come to your event, please fill in the form on this webpage.

See Also: Bollington's New Mayor and Deputy Mayor appointed and reveal town ambitions

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