The Mayor

Councillor Charles Meachin has been elected as Poole's 761st Mayor at this year's Mayor Making Ceremony .

The traditional ceremony - one of the highlights in Poole's civic calendar - also saw Councillor Chris Bulteel elected as Sheriff and Councillor Joyce Lavender, Mayor of Poole in 2008/09, appointed Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Meachin's duties as Mayor include chairing all meetings of the full Council, overseeing all citizenship ceremonies for those becoming British citizens in Poole and representing residents as their ambassador at the many functions he will attend in his mayoral year.

The new Mayor of Poole has chosen to support three projects for his mayoral year:

• Project Fortitude - A Royal Marines Poole initiative to provide serving personnel with an exceptional, possibly life changing experience, to help the rehabilitation of war veterans, injured in recent and current conflicts, through the challenging medium of adventure training.
• Chestnut Plant Nursery - Providing sheltered work opportunities for adults with severe and enduring mental illness. It aims to provide meaningful occupation in a pressure free environment and use the healing nature of horticulture to restore mental well-being.
• Poole Hospital Wish List, Children's Emergency Department - Children's facilities in A&E are currently being redesigned and redeveloped. Art and play are seen as an integral part of the hospitals vision for the 'new look' facilities. Funds raised will help create a child-friendly Emergency Department.

Councillor Meachin has been a Poole councillor since 1996 and represents the ward of Alderney. He and his wife Barbra are both ordained ministers.

As Mayor of the Borough of Poole, Charles is also Admiral of the Port, Mayor of the Staple and Clerk of the Market for the year 2008/09.

His duties include, chairing all meetings of the full Council, overseeing all Citizenship Ceremonies for those becoming British citizens in Poole and representing the people of Poole as their Ambassador at the many functions and duties he will effect in the Mayoral year. The Mayor also receives any visiting members of the Royal Family on behalf of the people of Poole.

Contacting the Mayor's Office

The Mayor and Sheriff welcome invitations to attend events held by local organisations within the Borough of Poole. Due to demand it may not be possible to attend every event to which the Civic Party are invited. We will contact you should any members of the Civic Party be available to attend your event.

Please contact the Mayor and Sheriff's Secretary by telephone on 01202 633200 or 633039 or email the Mayor's Secretary.