Independent mayor appointed at Mayor Making ceremony in Newark Town Hall as final farewell give to outgoing Mayor of Newark Laurence Goff

It was another milestone day for Independents For Newark as the new mayor was appointed.

The annual Mayor Making ceremony was held yesterday (Sunday) at Newark Town Hall, and was the first meeting of the new Independent-led Newark Town Council.

Outgoing Mayor of Newark Laurence Goff handed over the chain to Pamela Ball, who will now serve as town mayor for the next 12 months.

Pamela, the Independents For Newark councillor for Magnus Ward, was nominated by Neil Ross and the nomination seconded by David Moore.

Pamela moved to Newark 16 years ago as a bank manager, and liked the town so much she remained after her retirement.

She is active in the community, volunteering at a hospice and working as a gardener at a nearby National Trust property.

In his nomination, Neil described Pamela as being kind, compassionate, sometimes fierce and, above all, a peacemaker.

A strong majority vote saw her appointed to the role, with a big cheer from fellow councillors and the public audience.

Pamela’s journey to becoming a councillor, and now mayor, really began back in 2021 with the Stop The Chop campaign aiming to save the library gardens from development.

She was one of the final four on the barricaded site, who remained overnight until a last-minute deal was reached between Newark and Sherwood District Council and the landowner.

Neil said: “Pamela was prepared to endure that hardship and even arrest [for the cause].”

Upon being appointed mayor, Pamela said: “Who would have thought it.

“If someone had told me 18 months ago I would be a councillor and mayor, I wouldn’t have believed them.

“Thanks to Laurence for being a great example, I will do my best to serve Newark.”

Unaligned Independent Diane Ledger was appointed a deputy mayor, nominated by Esther Cropper and seconded by Neil Ross.

Esther said: “She has been an unsung hero of the Bridge Ward for a number of years. She’s not one to blow her own trumpet and just gets on with doing a good job.”

In an emotional section of the ceremony, tribute was also paid to Laurence’s year as mayor, and the hard work he has done in the Newark community.

His nominator for the role, former councillor Jane Olson took to the stage to share her thanks for his service over an “annus mirabilis”.

It was revealed he attended 153 events over the year, represented not only Newark but the UK in Poland, as well as raising more than £1,300 for his chosen charities.

She said: “What makes a town isn’t just its history or its potholes, it is the people.

“Laurence has been the tonic we’ve all needed after a difficult few years. He was a true mayor of the people.”

After quoting many great literary and historic Laurences, Jane added: “He is our Laurence of Newark, who will go down in history.”

There was a standing ovation, with the large audience rising to celebrate a remarkable mayor.

It was a moment that brought tears to the eyes of many guests, including the out-going mayor himself.

Alongside his wife Jean, who he thanked for her support throughout his time as mayor, he was presented with his former mayor’s badge and flowers.

Laurence added: “It has been an hounour and a privilege to be mayor of Newark, the heart of the town I am a member of.

“I’m grateful to have gone to Poland to represent the town, and I have had a lot of first events, as you can appreciate.

“I rode the [Brompton] bicycle over to Sconce Hills preschool, and yesterday I went to the county show.

“I would never have expected all these tributes in the paper and everywhere else, but I appreciate it, and I would like to thank Jane Olson for nominating me last year, and to all of the good people I’ve known over the years, thank you very much.”