THE next mayor of a Suffolk council has pledged to utilise his 50 years of experience by gelling together the new council following May's local election.

THE next mayor of a Suffolk council has pledged to utilise his 50 years of experience by gelling together the new council following May's local election.

David Lockwood, who has clocked up a total of 48 years experience on two different authorities, will take up his position as Mayor of St Edmundsbury in May – providing he is re-elected as a councillor.

A long-serving councillor, Mr Lockwood was elected to St Edmundsbury Borough Council as a Labour member in 1983, representing the Northgate Ward in Bury St Edmunds.

The new mayor, who lives in West Row near Mildenhall, has also served on Suffolk County Council as the member for Northgate and St Olaves since 1975. He was elected as chair of the council in 2000.

Mr Lockwood, who was nominated for the position of Mayor by a panel of his fellow St Edmundsbury Councillors, said the announcement, made during a full council meeting last Thursday, had come as quite a shock.

"It was a surprise to be asked to fill the role, as I wasn't expecting it, but it is quite an honour," said Mr Lockwood. "My main aims for the new term are to get re-elected and then help gel the new council together, whatever its politics.

"I think it will need experience from the chair to do that, and I think I have got that experience.

"I also want to become involved with some local charities during my year as mayor, but haven't decided which ones yet."

Mr Lockwood, who is divorced and lives with his partner Jacqueline, has four adult children and two grandchildren.

He worked as a partner in St Edmundsbury Dairies until the business was sold to Dairy Crest in January 2000, and has since then concentrated on his work with both councils.

But Mr Lockwood admits the year ahead could provide him with a challenge, steering through Bury's Cattle Market redevelopment whilst resolving the town's long-running multiplex cinema debacle.

He added: "I suspect there will be some serious meetings to chair over the next 12 months."

Ray Nowak, leader of the council, said Mr Lockwood was the ideal choice to lead the council through the next 12 months.

"I was really pleased with the Mayoral Panel's selection," he said. "David has done a lot in the community and gets things done, and I am sure he will represent the borough really well."