On 17th May 2006 Local councillor Jackie Drayton was made Lord Mayor of Sheffield. Jackie, who has been a Burngreave councillor for many years, was sworn in at a ceremony held at the Town Hall.
Jackie said in her speech:
“Well what can I say… I can’t believe it and I have to keep pinching myself. Me… Jackie Drayton… Jackie Cooper that was, a young girl off a council estate – Lord Mayor of Sheffield!”
Leaving school at 16 with no qualifications, she later become a mature student at Warwick University and went on to obtain a degree in teaching and worked in education for over 25 years.
Jackie has been an active member of the Burngreave community for many years and a local councillor for ten years. She came to Burngreave in 1979 from Coventry and has lived here ever since.
Jackie has always loved Burngreave, stating in her speech:
“I’m fortunate to have lived in Burngreave since I arrived in Sheffield and I have had the wonderful opportunity of meeting and making friends with people from many different backgrounds and cultures. These people have enriched my life and the life of our great city. I have, and always will, value their friendship and support.”
Jackie will spend the next year as Lord Mayor, and although remaining a councillor she will not be holding any surgeries for residents in the coming year. But as this issue of the Messenger shows, she will be busy representing the Council at events in Burngreave and across the city.
by Tom Sadler
Lord Mayor’s Parade
This year’s Lord Mayor’s Parade will take place on Saturday 8th July 2006. The parade will begin at 12 noon (meet for 11am) from St James Street and finish on the Devonshire Green in the city centre. Local school children are currently working on costumes, flags, banners and masks to use in the parade. Funds have been raised by Green City Action, with the support of the Area Panel and New Deal, to send an artist into schools to support them.
For more information, contact Bob Worm at Green City Action on 244 0353.
