A COUNCILLOR who spent 25 years working at a Rhyl primary school has taken over the mayoral chain of office.

Cllr Ellie Chard has taken office for the first time, succeeding Cllr Win Mullen-James.

Cllr Chard, who spent 25 years at Rhyl’s Ysgol Mair working in administration, became a town councillor in 2011 and was elected to Denbighshire County Council in 2017.

She said: “It is an honour to be elected as Rhyl mayor, particularly at a time when the town is undergoing so much positive change.

“I became a councillor to give something back to the community so over the next 12 months I’ll be looking to support the many local groups who do such great work in Rhyl and hope to visit as many of them as I can.

"These are exciting times for the town and the community of Rhyl will play an important part in the changes ahead.”

Before joining Ysgol Mair, cllr Chard, a reader at Rhyl’s St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, worked at Gamlins Solicitors and then in banking with the Abbey National and Barclays.

The Denbighshire County Council governor for Ysgol Tir Morfa and a former unit helper with 3rd Rhyl Brownies has two daughters, Jane and Lucy.

She is also a grandmother to Jack and Cariad.

Cllr Chard, who has Type 1 diabetes, will be supporting and raising funds for Diabetes UK Cymru and Treasure Chest, a charity based at Bodelwyddan’s Ysbyty Glan Clwyd which supports people with breast cancer.

“Back in 1980 when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, the hospital matron told me to get in touch with Diabetes UK as they would give me the help I needed," cllr Chard added.

"She was right and by supporting the charity this year I am able to give something back.

"Treasure Chest is a small but important charity and I am happy to be able to help them too,” added Cllr Chard.

Cllr Chard's consort for the year ahead will be her husband, Dudley, who worked for Marks & Spencer for 43 years.

The mayor’s chaplain will be Rv Fr Charles Ramsay of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.

The deputy mayor is Cllr Diane King who represents Pendyffryn ward.