New lord mayor elected in Plymouth

Retired solicitor is “steadfast advocate” of the people

Retired solicitor Kathy Watkin has been elected as the new lord mayor of Plymouth, a tradition which goes back 90 years.

In a ceremony at a city centre hotel, the Conservative councillor for Plymstock Radford was handed the chains of office from outgoing lord mayor Cllr Tina Tuohy (Lab, Ham) during Plymouth City Council’s annual general meeting.

Born in Shropshire, Cllr Watkin worked as a speech and language therapist before training as a lawyer and moving to Plymouth, where she spent most of her working life, the last 13 running her own practice in Mutley Plain.

After retiring and then joining the council in 2019, she has served on committees including planning, corporate parenting and health and wellbeing.

In 2023 she was elected as deputy lord mayor.

Leader of the Conservative group Cllr Andy Lugger (Southway) said Cllr Watkin’s background as a lawyer gives her “unique perspective on the challenges faced by families and businesses in the city today” and allows her “to approach political issues with both empathy and pragmatism”.

Cllr Watkin said it was a great honour to become lord mayor in the city which had been her adopted home for past 50 years.

The lord mayor’s role is primarily ceremonial and non-political and involves chairing city council meetings.

The councillor’s charities for the year are St Luke’s, which supports people with life-limiting illnesses, and Children’s Wishes, a new charity which in less than a year has helped more than 150 children in poverty, suffering illness or facing family bereavement.

Cllr Chip Tofan (Con, Eggbuckland) was elected as deputy lord mayor, taking over from Cllr Pauline Murphy (Lab, Efford and Lipson).

The Romanian-born councillor who was elected in 2022 runs his own consultancy business.

A former lord mayor, alderman and city councillor of 22 years Dr John Mahony will be the lord mayor’s consort.

The lord mayor’s cadet will be Sergeant Sebastian Thomas Williams who is  part of the RAF Squadron at Devonport.

It had been his ambition to be the lord mayor’s cadet since attending mayoral events with his step grandmother, the late councillor and alderman Vivian Pengelly, Cllr Watkin said.

Her chaplain will be Rev Hannah Freeland of Hooe Baptist Church in Plymstock.

Outgoing lord mayor Cllr Tina Tuohy was thanked for her “wisdom and humour” when chairing council meetings.

She had attended more than 270 engagements over the past year and raised £7,000 for her chosen charity Hamoaze House, which helps people suffering from addiction.

She said: “Over the past year I have had the privilege of seeing Plymouth in a way few people do . I have spent time in communities hearing your stories, celebrating your heritage and witnessing the everyday resilience and kindness that defines Plymouth.

“Although I have lived in North Prospect for 40 odd years and always been deeply involved with the community there, this year has opened my eyes even more. I have seen how strong, how united and how proud all the people of Plymouth are no matter what life has thrown at them and I have been humbled by their humour and fortitude.”

Cllr Tudor Evans (Lab, Ham) remains as council leader.