THE moment Devizes mayor-elect Andy Johnson has been waiting for will finally arrive this evening but the ceremony will be very different to the one he envisaged.

Thanks to new technology the mayor-making ceremony will go ahead over Zoom but it will lack the pomp and circumstance of the usual centuries old tradition.

But at least Mr Johnson will be able to share the experience with friends and family from America by inviting them to take part via Zoom.

He said: “It isn’t going to happen the way I was expecting or would have liked but at least the ceremony can go-ahead. The ceremony goes back to the 13th Century and I will be the first Mayor to have a virtual mayor making.

“It will be a huge honour to become mayor but it is very disappointing that I will have to wait to be able to carry out any face to face engagements.

“I am having to isolate because of health problems. My first grandchild was born during lockdown so I have not yet managed to see her other than on a screen. It is a very strange way of life for all of us.”

But he is determined to make sure that Coronavirus does not interfere with fundraising for his three chosen charities of Devizes Opportunity Centre, Devizes Foodbank and the new St James Centre.

He said: “I am looking into different ways of organising on-line activities to raise money. They are all fantastic local causes.”

Cllr Johnson, a Conservative, became deputy mayor last year after the ruling Devizes Guardians held the mayoral posts for seven years.

Cllr Johnson, who is married to Kayoko, has three children. He moved to Wiltshire 21 years ago from South London and has lived in Devizes for 12 years.

He said: “After moving to Wiltshire I organised and ran youth workshops. My life is now all in the voluntary sector.

He takes over the role of Mayor from Judy Rose.