WINCHESTER’S 815th mayor Cllr Eileen Berry is set to be formally installed tomorrow night.

The office is one of the oldest mayoralties in England, dating back to when the city was the nation’s capital.

Tomorrow evening the annual Mayor Making ceremony will held at The Guildhall, during which the outgoing incumbant Cllr Ernie Jeffs will formally hand over the chain of office.

Conservative Cllr Berry, who is coy about her age, has served on the council for 11 years representing the St Barnabus ward.

“Without being cheesy, I think becoming mayor is the greatest honour I’ll ever experience and it’s very humbling,” she said.

“I really feel in this world we live in, with all the problems we have, life can sometimes make us dull.

“So not only do I want to do a good job, I want to bring a little bit of fun, happiness and colour to the post.”

Within hours of the ceremony Cllr Berry is set to embark on a programme of fundraising activities for her chosen charities.

She will be supporting four causes over the next 12 months – National Armed Forces charity SSAFA, Winchester-based mental health charity Together, Blue Apple, a Hampshire theatre company for actors with learning difficulties, and the 1st Winchester Scouts.