At the full meeting of Harrogate Borough Council on Wednesday 6 March 2013, it was announced that Councillor Michael Newby will become Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate on 20 May 2013.
Cllr Michael Newby (LibDem) Saltergate Ward.
Born in Harrogate in 1958, educated at Forest Grange Kindergarten, Wedderburn Infants School, Woodlands Junior School, Hookstone Chase Primary School, Pannal Primary School and Harrogate High School. It was while at the High School that Michael became one of the original members of the Granby High School Concert Band.
He then went on to Leicester University where he gained a degree in History.
Michael was first employed as a Computer Operator at Farnell Instruments in Wetherby before leaving to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Leeds University. Michael taught History at St John Fisher High School. After a year teaching in Norfolk he worked as constituency assistant for Phil Willis MP and for the last 18 months has worked in the Prison Service.
Michael was first elected to Harrogate Borough Council for the Pannal Ward in 1984; a ward he represented until 1992 and from 1995 to 1999. On his return to Harrogate he was elected for the Saltergate Ward in 2002 which he continues to represent. This makes him one of the longest serving councillors on the Council.
He has always maintained an involvement in community affairs and is currently the Chair of the Management Committees of both the Jennyfield Styan Community Centre and the Harold Styan Youth Club. He is also a governor at Saltergate Junior School. He also spent over 40 years in the Scout Movement as cub, scout, and assistant leader.
Michael is a regular concert and theatre goer, serving on the board of Harrogate Theatre. He is a member of the Liaison Committee of the Harrogate International Youth Festival of Performing Arts having performed as a band member as far back in 1976.
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For the last ten years he has taken part in the Pannal Players’ annual pantomime and has been joined for the last two years on stage by his partner Clive Kirkham (who will become his Consort for the year).
The Mayor of the Borough has the privilege of choosing a fellow councillor to act as his Deputy. Cllr Newby has invited Cllr Clare McKenzie (LibDem – Bilton Ward) and her partner Mark to act as Deputy Mayor and Consort. The Borough’s four new civic heads will be sworn in for a twelve month term of office at Harrogate Borough Council’s Annual Meeting on 20 May 2012.
