SWINDON’S first lady Mayor for more than a decade was installed into office yesterday vowing to continue the tradition of supporting charities in the town.

Coun Ray Ballman formally took office at a mayor-making ceremony yesterday at the Civic Offices, which was followed by a civic dinner at the Steam Museum last night.

The Labour councillor for Gorse Hill & Pinehurst will have husband and fellow ward councillor John as her consort for the year.

She is the first female to become Swindon’s First Citizen since Joy Brunt, who served as Mayor between 1999 and 2000.

Freshbook & Grange Park Conservative councillor, Mick Bray, was named as deputy mayor during mayor-making yesterday afternoon.

Barely 24 hours after undergoing his first session of chemotherapy to treat lung cancer, outgoing Mayor Rex Barnett received a standing ovation from fellow councillors for his year-long service which raised more than £68,000 for local charities.

“Rex and Sandra will be a very hard act to follow,” admitted Coun Ballman, referring to former Mayoress, Sandra Barnett. “But it is also a great honour for me to be the Mayor of Swindon.”

This year, Coun Ballman, a former nurse at the Princess Margaret and the Great Western hospitals and who has a strong interest in adult social care, has chosen the Gorse Hill-based Open Door charity, the Rowdy Bunch and Football in the Community as her charities.

The Rowdy Bunch, which is a youth club for disabled teenagers, and the Swindon Town-backed Football in the Community initiative, are both being backed by the Mayor under the banner of the charity group Swindon Cares, which has also adopted the two organisations for the next couple of years.

The new Mayor told fellow councillors: “I hope many of you will support my charities this year.

“This will be a chance to contribute to Big Society.”

Coun Ballman was nominated for the post of Mayor by outgoing Labour group leader, Derique Montaut (Central), and seconded by Kevin Small (Lab, Western), with ringing words of endorsement from the three party leaders, Rod Bluh, Jim Grant and Stan Pajak.

Outgoing mayor, Coun Barnett, who was also warmly congratulated by the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders, paid tribute to wife Sandra for “an exhilarating Mayoral year”.

He also thanked councillors for their prayers and good wishes following the announcement of his illness.

Coun Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town & Lawn) who himself had to battle prostate cancer three years ago, said: “I think you have the determination as well as the support of Sandra to give it one hell of a scrap and we wish you, all of us, the very best of luck.”