There’s no change at the head of the town council table as a familiar face will be Alton’s mayor for the next year.

Cllr Annette Eyre was re-elected mayor following a vote at the annual meeting of Alton Town Council last Wednesday (May 29).

But she has got a new right-hand man as Cllr Nick O’Brien got the nod as deputy following a nomination by Cllr Barbara Tansey.

Cllr Eyre started by thanking councillors and ATC staff for their “continued hard work” over the last year.

Her words were later echoed by Cllr Graham Hill as he feels the new-look council has overcome a steep learning curve.

He said: “As one of the old stagers here I think officers have done a superb job in challenging circumstances, along with the ladies here and the ground staff. 

“I think us councillors have done a pretty good job, too.”

Cllr Eyre told ATC she will not be accompanied by a consort on her civic duties and named Dementia Friendly Alton her charity for the next year. 

Meanwhile, a keen gardener with a wealth of council experience has a new patch as Doug Richards was unanimously co-opted onto ATC to represent Alton Eastbrooke.

Mr Richards moved to Alton in 2022 but has lengthy local authority experience having worked for Woking Borough Council for more than 20 years. He managed the horticultural and highways department at the authority and was later a highways inspector at Surrey County Council. 

The former commercial grower is very green-fingered as he’s involved with the Royal Horticulture Society, volunteers at Chawton House, and was once the head gardener for a former Bank of England chairman.

“I’m interested in anything environmental,” said the former Conservative, who decided to stand as an independent because he “didn’t want to get involved in politics anymore”.