The man who helped drive through the changes to Berkhamsted’s schooling system has been appointed new mayor for the town.
Ian Reay has represented the town on Herts County Council for the last four years and on Dacorum Borough Council for the last 13 years.
In the recent county council elections, his share of the vote rose from 43 to 45 per cent.
But he said: “I do not have total power over politics in Berkhamsted.
“There’s very much a team spirt in politics in this town.”
Mr Reay has sat on Berkhamsted Town Council since 1991 and represents its west ward – but this is the first time he has been Berkhamsted’s mayor.
He said: “I am going to give priority to this role for the next year and will give less priority to my work for the borough and county.”
He has already shifted around his duties on the two bodies to make more time for his mayoral duties, he says.
He became mayor at the town council’s annual meeting on Monday and takes over from Ron Cowie, who has held it for the past year.
Mr Cowie said: “It has been a privilege to be mayor of this marvellous town.
“I have met some wonderful people and hope to meet them again when I am incognito.”
Mr Reay says the thing he is ‘most proud’ of achieving as a politician is helping persuade the county council’s education department to allow Berkhamsted’s schools to switch from being three- to two-tier.
He said: “The schools wanted it and I have done my best to facilitate it – and that took a lot of hard work.”
Mr Reay, 64, has lived in Berkhamsted since 1979.