Vivian Pengelly becomes Lord Mayor of Plymouth

The former Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Vivian Pengelly will be elected as Lord Mayor in a ceremony at the Guildhall today (Friday 17 May).

Cllr Pengelly was until recently the leader of the Conservative group in opposition to the Labour controlled Council. She led the Council under the previous Conservative administration between 2007 and 2012.

She succeeds Cllr Michael Wright as Lord Mayor and holds the office for the next twelve months.

Ms Pengelly will raise money for the Plymouth Drake Foundation community charity during her tenure and also for local ex-servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Commando Gunners.

Cllr Pengelly will also be a key personality representing the city in Plymouth's bid for City of Culture 2017.

Plymouth has a rich mayoral history, beginning in 1439. Sir Francis Drake held the honour in 1580.

The annual Lord Mayor's Day celebrations take place in the city centre tomorrow (Saturday 18 May). This year, the event ties in with the city's month long History Festival with the theme of 'Plymouth's Hidden History'.  There will be entertainment, children's activities and a history trail and the celebrations will be followed by a chance to watch the Eurovision Song Contest on the big screen in the Piazza.