Malcolm Lees to become first independent Mayor of Bath for more than 60 years

Insurance broker Malcolm Lees will become the first independent Mayor of Bath for more than 60 years when he takes office in June.

The Weston councillor, who switched to the independent group from the Conservatives last May, will become mayor on June 1.

Mr Lees, who has been on B&NES Council since 2007, will be the 786th city mayor, and will be installed at a ceremony at Bath Abbey.

His theme will be to focus on vulnerable people, and he wants to support charities such as homelessness group Julian House.

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He said: “I want to raise awareness of the difficulties many local residents are facing whether through homelessness, unemployment or old age.”

His wife Pat, who will be mayoress, is a keen supporter of Julian House and raises money for it by selling hand-made cards and bags.

Born and bred in Bath, Mr Lees attended Oldfield School and the City of Bath Technical School.

He started his own brokerage business, which he runs with his wife, in Weston High Street in 1982.

A former president of the Bath Junior Chamber of Commerce, he has been a member of the Bath and County Club for more than 30 years.

Councillor Ian Gilchrist (Lib Dem, Widcombe), a software product manager who has lived in Bath since the early 1980s, will be deputy mayor.

The chair of governors at Widcombe Junior School runs the Widcombe Mummers and the Bath City Jubilee Waits, which performs traditional music on civic occasions.

Mr Lees takes over from Liberal Democrat Councillor Andrew Furse.