George takes the chain as borough first citizen

12:03pm Monday 12th May 2008

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THE robes and chain of the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane have been handed over for the 366th time.

Councillor George Hood, the deputy mayor for the past year, became the borough's new first citizen when he was sworn in at the Civic Offices on Thursday night.

Outgoing mayor Warwick Lovegrove, who lost his council seat at the May 1 election, handed over to Cllr Hood at the annual meeting of the borough council, attended by councillors, former mayors, dignitaries and invited members of the public.

Before the meeting, Cllr Hood told The Gazette: "My theme for the year will be unity - all working together to achieve a common goal."

Cllr Dan Putty, who has known Cllr Hood for 30 years since joining the governors' board at Merton Infant School, nominated him for the role.

He said: "I'm confident the office of mayor will suit you and I know you will do a grand job."

Seconding the nomination, Cllr Mary Brian included praise for the new mayoress Davina Hood.

"He will be an exceptional mayor and, with Davina beside him, he will be a credit to the borough," said Cllr Brian.

After being sworn in, Cllr Hood welcomed Cllr Brian Gurden as his deputy and used his first speech as mayor to compliment his predecessor Mr Lovegrove and his wife Carol.

He said: "Warwick was always seen as the quiet man. He would only speak when he had something to say, but he's extremely talented."

Cllr Hood, 72, started as an agricultural engineer and moved to Basingstoke in 1962, when offered a position as an inspector at Thornycroft.

When the company relocated in 1992, he found new work offering training programmes for the unemployed until his retirement six years later.

Outside work, he has been active in the community, not only as a councillor and school governor, but also serving on Loddon Mental Health Trust, which later became the Primary Care Group and later the Primary Care Trust.

This connection with health, strengthened through his wife's work as a nurse, shone through in his choice of charities to support.

Cllr Hood will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease and Naomi House this year.

In his final speech, Mr Lovegrove revealed how much had been raised for his charities - the Children's Society Young Carers Initiative, Tadley-based Fir Tree Lodge, The North Hampshire Medical Fund and Breast Cancer Support.

"We managed to raise in excess of £35,000 so far, and the money is still coming in," said Mr Lovegrove, who thanked numerous organisations, including The Gazette, for their support.

He added: "There have been many highlights of my year. Innumerable times I was amazed and humbled by the commitment and talent in our borough."