Tor Pingree becomes Worcester's youngest ever mayor

CHAINS: Tor Pingree has become Worcester's youngest mayor <i>(Image: Phil Wilkinson-Jones/LDRS)</i>
CHAINS: Tor Pingree has become Worcester's youngest mayor (Image: Phil Wilkinson-Jones/LDRS)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

Worcester councillors have elected the city’s youngest ever mayor.

Tor Pingree also became Worcester’s second-ever Green Party mayor at the city council’s annual meeting on Tuesday (May 12).

The 26-year-old was unanimously voted into the role by fellow councillors at a packed Guildhall, with her friends and family looking on.

Councillor Alex Kinnersley said: "Tor brings an amazing energy, commitment and passion for Worcester and its people.

"She is a superb local councillor and will be an excellent mayor."

Cllr Kinnersley said Cllr Pingree is a "talented musician" who also teaches part-time at Worcester Sixth Form College and becomes the "youngest mayor of Worcester."

"When you are with her, Tor makes you feel anything is possible," added Cllr Kinnersley.

Cllr Pingree told the meeting: "It is an honour to represent the city I grew up in - it is an honour just to be a councillor.

"Some people here have been councillors longer than I’ve been alive - and the decisions you’ve made have shaped who I am because I grew up here.

"I’m excited and will do my best, and try to have a wonderful time."

Cllr Pingree said her mayor’s consort will be her husband Alaric Stephen, whom she described as "my rock."

The city orator during her mayoralty will be performance poet Giovanni Esposito, also known as Spoz.

Cllr Pingree, who takes over from Labour’s Matt Lamb as mayor, will be raising money for the charity Onside Advocacy over the next 12 months and said the theme for her mayoral year will be ‘Community.’

"It feels like a strange dream - it’s amazing," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"If you’d said to me 10 years ago, when I was finishing my GCSEs, that I’d be the mayor in 10 years’ time I’d say what? But I’m so excited.

"I’ve watched Matt and Zoe doing it for the past year and loved it so much - I can’t wait to get involved."

She said she believed Jabba Riaz was Worcester’s previous youngest mayor.

Lib Dem councillor Karen Holmes was elected as the deputy mayor.

Cllr Mel Allcott described her as hardworking and "one of the kindest people I know."

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos