NEW Devizes Mayor Judy Rose is determined to take part in as many events as possible during her year in office and has a trusted team to help support her.

Cllr Rose was sworn into office on Thursday evening at the town hall and has pledged to try to honour every engagement she can over the next 12 months.

But her husband and consort Ian will not always be able to be at her side because of his own commitments and so she will often be seen in the company of former Mayors Jane Burton and Sue Evans or another fellow town councillor Chris Gay.

Her daughter Annie Rose will also play a role and grand-daughter Rosie is expected to pop up from time to time especially as occasions such as Devizes Carnival.

Mrs Rose said: “People see the chain rather than the person and I am determined to be out there showing it off as much as possible. I was very honoured to be elected. I am the 14th woman to be Mayor in Devizes and I think I am the first to have an all woman team of chamberlains.

“I think I will be a bit nervous going to my first engagements so it will be good to have experienced people like Jane and Sue at my side.”

Cllr Rose has chosen three local causes to support during her year. She will raise money for the Devizes Foodbank, Victim Support and Devizes Town Youth Football Club.

She said: “My support for the Foodbank was a no brainer. I was shocked to find out how many people now depend on it for help. This shouldn’t be the case in this day and age. It does an incredible job to helping families.”

She is also keen to help Devizes based Victim Support Wiltshire. She said: “I used to work for Victim Support and know what an important job it does to help people. Not everyone realises what a big role it plays in helping victims.”

She has already visited Devizes Town Youth Football Club and believes it can play a big role in helping youngsters make friends and learn a new skill.

She was at its Nursteed Road base at the weekend to see its coaches in action and was impressed. She said: “I wanted to support something that is involved with young people and I think the youth football club is doing a great job.”

Cllr Rose says she fell in love with Devizes at first sight. She said: “When my husband was asked to move to his firm’s HQ just outside Swindon in 1983, we explored Wiltshire to find somewhere suitable to live.

“After visiting several towns within reasonable commuting distance of his work, we walked into Devizes Market Place one cold sunny January morning and fell in love with the town. We moved here shortly afterwards and have now been resident for 36 years.”

She was first elected to the town council in 2013, but had been involved in local issues since the saga of the Market Place trees in 2001. She said: “I want to continue to stand up for the things that matter to our community.”

She was born and brought up in Aberdeen and later worked as a primary school teacher in Edinburgh and London.

She is married with two daughters and one grand-daughter.

Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, music, sewing, reading and the theatre.

Andy Johnson is the new deputy mayor.