From the New Mayor of Bath’s Office: The City’s annual Mayor Making Ceremony took place on Saturday 7 June at Bath Abbey. Councillor Professor Bharat Pankhania was formally appointed, taking on the historic role as the 798th Mayor of Bath.
The Avon Fire & Rescue Ceremonial Drill Squad made an impressive Guard of Honour on the Guildhall steps, the Abbey Bells rang, and the 93 (City of Bath) Squadron RAF Marching Band played for the Civic Procession to make its way to Bath Abbey.
The Mayor’s Officer, Police Stave-Bearers, Chief Inspector, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, City Sword-Bearer and Mace-Bearers preceded the retiring Mayor (Councillor Michelle O’Doherty), retiring Deputy Mayor (Councillor Ruth Malloy), Deputy Lieutenant Mr Thomas Sheppard DL, High Sheriff Janet Montgomery, visiting Mayors, Charter Trustees, Honorary Aldermen and other VIP guests. Large crowds of people stopped and lined the route to watch. Around 300 people witnessed the Ceremony as it took place.
In his inaugural speech, the new Mayor said: “It is with immense pride, deep humility, and a profound sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as the newly appointed Mayor of the City of Bath. Our beautiful city is a city which wears its heritage with grace and carries its future with confidence. To serve as Mayor of this rare double-inscribed World Heritage Site is one of the greatest honors of my life. I am so proud that my wife, Alison, will be my Mayoress for the year, and I also thank my daughter India and son Arjuna too for their support. I rely on their good council and encouragement. I thank the wonderful residents of Combe Down who have elected me twice to serve them.
My theme for the year is ‘Education is Empowerment’. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge— it is also about liberation, it is about making the right critical analysis, using wisdom, and making sound judgments, especially in our current world order of deliberate manipulation and misinformation. It is about unlocking the full human potential. It equips individuals to dream, to innovate, to contribute. Education provides us with tools not only to uplift ourselves but also to serve and uplift others and to realise their full potential. Education is also about lifelong learning, a forever cycle, for all ages, for all people. Growing up, I saw education transform lives—my own included.
My education opened the doors, it has created opportunities for me, it has given me the confidence to contribute to society, as an individual, a clinician and an academic. It has given me the confidence to speak up for both for myself and on behalf of others.”
Councillor Ian Halsall was appointed as Deputy Mayor. He said, “I greatly look forward to supporting the Mayor in his role, and take this opportunity to thank him for his service not just to this City but also as being a composed and factual advisor to the many viewers who regularly watched him and heeded his sage advice on BBC Points West during the Covid Pandemic, often in the surrounds of his lovely garden.
As a proud Lancastrian who moved to Bath 24 years ago, I could never have imagined that I would be here today to commit to assisting the Mayor in upholding the values and service of this historic role. My husband, James Fox, will be my Consort for the year.”
The Mayor has chosen a humanist celebrant to be his honorary ‘Mayor’s Chaplain’ for his term, supporting and engaging with all religions and all beliefs. In appointing Bath resident Isabel Russo, former Head of Ceremonies at Humanists UK, he has made Bath one of the largest cities ever to have a humanist serve this important ceremonial role. Isabel commented afterwards, “I am delighted to be appointed to this role and very much enjoyed the Election of Mayor Ceremony on Saturday. I have dedicated much of my professional career to crafting the most meaningful moments for people during significant times in their lives. To be able to do that with the new Mayor, for the people of the City I have grown up in, is a huge opportunity. I look forward to taking an inclusive approach, working with those of all religions and beliefs, including the non-religious, to foster a more tolerant city that embraces its diversity.”
Bath Philharmonia and their choir Harmony Rising provided wonderful musical performances whilst guests arrived, during the exchange of robes and regalia, and for the outgoing Civic Procession.
Members of the Mayor’s Corps of Honorary Guides, Bath Abbey staff and St John Ambulance provided valuable services for the Ceremony, and a retiring collection was made for the Mayor of Bath’s Relief Fund, which helps people in need in the City of Bath suffering real hardships.
Further details about the Mayoralty can be found at www.mayorofbath.co.uk.
