The new mayor of a Suffolk seaside town has described the 'special' honour of being elected to the position after only joining the council last year.

Councillor David Rowe has taken over from the previous Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Seamus Bennett and has pledged to meet as many people and organisations in the town as he can, based around his theme for the year, which is service.

He said: "It is a great honour to have been elected mayor at the town council meeting on May 15.

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"To be made mayor of the town you have called home all of your adult life is very special and I am looking forward to an exciting year."

Cllr Rowe lived in neighbouring Trimley until he was a teenager, before moving to Felixstowe and he said he had lived in the town or the surrounding area 'all my life'.

East Anglian Daily Times: Felixstowe Mayor David Rowe has pledged to support Breast Friends CIC and the Landguard Trust during his year as mayorFelixstowe Mayor David Rowe has pledged to support Breast Friends CIC and the Landguard Trust during his year as mayor (Image: Felixstowe Town Council)In the 1990s, he was a district councillor and a county councillor between 2001 and 2005, while he works for Ipswich Borough Council and has been seconded to the public service union Unison. 

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He said: "The theme for my year is service. We have so many people and organisations in our town who serve others and it is what makes Felixstowe such a caring and fantastic community.

"Many of these people are volunteers making personal sacrifices to serve and help others.

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"During my year I would like to meet as many people and organisations who serve our town and thank you for what you do, so do contact me to arrange a visit."

During his mayoral year, he has chosen to support the charities Breast Friends CIC, which provides support for people affected by breast cancer and the Landguard Trust, which preserves the Landguard Nature Reserve, Fort and Felixstowe Museum.