NEWPORT'S MAYOR-IN-WAITING ANNOUNCED

Councillor Bill Langsford has been voted as Newport's Mayor Elect.

His term will begin in May and he will be first citizen when the Ryder Cup comes to Newport in the autumn.

He received the unanimous backing of the full council after being nominated by leader Councillor Matthew Evans and seconded by Councillor Bob Bright, the leader of the opposition. Councillor Margaret Cornelious will serve as deputy mayor.

Councillor Langsford was brought up and educated in West Somerset. He worked for British Rail for more than 35 years in the engineering department but said he decided to retire early because he did not want to work for a privatised industry.

He started his career in Taunton and worked briefly in Bristol before moving to Newport in 1966.

Councillor Langsford met his wife Sue while she was also working for British Rail in Newport.

A keen follower of sport, he is still a season ticket holder of Somerset and Glamorgan County Cricket Clubs.

He only severed links with Minehead FC in 1986 and became involved with Cwmbran FC. Lately, he has become interested in rugby and is a season ticket holder of Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport RFC.

Councillor Langsford became a member of the Labour Party in 1987 and in 1995 he was elected to represent the Allt-yr-yn ward.

In 1999, he was asked to stand for the Malpas ward which he still represents.

Councillor Langsford served as a governor at Malpas Court Primary School, Malpas Park Primary School and Bettws High School, now known as Newport High School.

He also sat on the former housing and personnel committees, becoming vice-chairman of the latter. He became deputy executive leader for resources and business manager of the city council from 2004 to 2008. He now serves on the overview and scrutiny forums for resources and young people’s services.