Malmesbury’s new mayor and deputy mayor were sworn in on Tuesday at the Robing ceremony.

Mayor Julie Exton, and deputy mayor Campbell Ritchie, received their robes at the traditional formal event.

More than 100 people attended the event at Malmesbury Town Hall including North Wiltshire MP James Gray and Rev Oliver Ross and Rev Linda Sullivan of Malmesbury Abbey.

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

Julie said: “It is with the greatest honour that I have become the mayor of Malmesbury for this civic year.

“In my mayoral year, I would like to help and encourage as many people as possible to participate in the groups we have in our vibrant town.

“Community is so important, so I would like to extend an invitation to all community groups and organisations in and around our town to come together and help me plan a community day at the town hall, where they can showcase to our residents the multitude of different activities available here, along with other services and businesses too.

“I feel very privileged to take up this position and promise to do my utmost to serve the town and council throughout my civic year as your mayor”.

During the evening, the mayor also announced her three mayoral charities.

They are Wiltshire Mind, Heals and Dorothy House.

Rev Linda Sullivan will be Julie’s chaplain for her mayoral year and Julie’s husband, Cllr Phil Exton is her consort.

Cllr Ritchie was welcomed by Cllr John Gundry as the newly elected deputy town mayor and was presented with the Collar and Badge of his office.

Cllr Ritchie was elected in 2017 and has lived in Malmesbury for seven years. However he has been a regular visitor to Malmesbury for over 35 years, due to having family living in the town.

The retiring mayor Cllr Fran Vandelli and her consort Stefano Vandelli were thanked by Julie for representing the town, council and residents over the last year.