'I'm ready to work with our community' - new Mayor of Sleaford elected

Coun Darmon was proposed as Mayor and chairman at the annual meeting of the council on Wednesday evening (May 13).

Coun Darmon was first co-opted onto the Town Council on May 22, 2019 and was re-elected at the elections on May 4, 2023. He has been the chairman of the Planning Committee.

He will be joined by newly elected Deputy Mayor Steve Mason.

Coun Mason was elected to the Town Council on May 4, 2023 and has been chairman of the finance committee.

Coun Darmon had served as Deputy Mayor to Coun Alison Snookes over the past year and was passed the chain of office by her before he returned the favour in presenting her with a past mayor’s badge.

He said: “I feel honoured to be voted in as Mayor of Sleaford and chairman of Sleaford Town Council.

"I am ready to work with our community to help build a positive, forward-thinking future for our great town, which I grew up in and am proud to call my home.”

Coun Darmon, now 62, had previously had a long career in retail management until suffering in a near-fatal car crash in 2019 where he was left critically ill with his neck broken in two places and a broken collar bone.

"I did get back to work,” he said. “I had to wear a metal frame to support my head at first.”

He eventually left on health grounds and is semi-retired.

He said: “I’m just into everything to do with Sleaford, campaigning for things for the town.”

A keen user of social media, he promised to keep a low-key, neutral presence as befits his mayoral role and the councillors’ code of conduct.

"I will choose two charities to support during my year as mayor but these are to be confirmed,” he said.

His first engagement was to be welcoming delegation from Sleaford’s twin towns of Marquette Lez Lille in France and Fredersdorf Vogelsdorf in Germany when they arrive today (Thursday, May 14).