SALISBURY greeted its 742nd mayor with centuries-old pageantry but also the promise of a thoroughly modern mayoral year ahead.

Sue Mallory, the youngest city charter trustee and youngest member of Salisbury district council, took on the mantle of first citizen on a gloriously sunny Saturday, promising that she would work to make the mayoralty relevant to all the people of the city.

And, she joked, as an under-40, she was not ruling out the possibility of a mayoral rock concert during the year.

But first came old-fashioned pomp and ceremony, as robed charter trustees, local VIPs and invited guests from around the world processed through the streets with a brass band at their head.

In the beautiful and historic surroundings of St Thomas's Church, Ms Mallory made the declaration that she would serve the district, as she accepted the chain of office from outgoing mayor Ian Tomes.