MALMESBURY'S new Mayor and Deputy Mayor were sworn in last night at the Robing ceremony.

Malmesbury Mayor Fran Vandelli, and Deputy Mayor Julie Exton, received their robes at the traditional formal event.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray, High Sheriff of Wiltshire Nicky Alberry, town clerk Jeff Penfold and Mace Bearer John Kerslake were among the many attendees who packed into Malmesbury Town Hall.

During the evening, Mayor Vandelli as customary, set out what she aims to achieve this year during her acceptance speech.

"In the centenary of the year that some women, not all, first won the right to vote, it feels like quite a responsibility to be carrying the torch for women's influence and involvement in democracy, and if I think of the brave activists of the women's suffrage movement, I hope what I do in the coming year will be the sort of thing that would have made them proud," said Mayor Vandelli.

"So what would I like to do or achieve in the coming year, or at least have a good go at?

"Setting up a Heritage Network‎ to support all of the history, civic and heritage groups and societies in Malmesbury.

Boosting tourism through acquiring Coach Friendly Status for our town and for that we need better access to public conveniences.

"I want to see a Community orchard planted that has the potential to bind the community together by linking newer housing areas with the centre of town, provide an educational resource, boost biodiversity, create opportunities for gathering to press apples and traditional festival celebrations like Wassailing and grow fruit of course!

"I want to support Malmesbury Town Council"s drive to reduce its environmental footprint, to reduce or stop using single use plastics and to reduce, reuse and recycle any and all other plastics and to extend that to the whole town.

"Whatever we leave our children and grandchildren, let's make it something to be proud of.

"I want to promote inter generational work.

"We are already increasing our support for youth provision and now it looks like health and social care‎ are in a precarious position nationally.

"Towns and parishes will need to be better able to support a senior population in the future - being dementia friendly is a good start, and we need a strong network of community support and expertise.

"Intergenerational work will help create the foundations on which to build the community understanding and caring that we need.

"I also need to hear what the community wants from me, so I'm going to create opportunities‎ to listen to the citizens of Malmesbury."

During the evening, Mayor Vandelli also announced her two mayoral charities. They are the Malmesbury Rivers Valley's Trust and Alzheimer’s Wiltshire.