TAMESIDE Council has appointed its youngest-ever civic mayor.

When Cllr Leigh Drennan assumes the chain of office at the authority’s annual meeting on Tuesday, May 21, he will be only 27.

Cllr Drennan, whose family comes from Droylsden and Clayton, represents Ashton’s Hurst ward and was first elected in 2012 when he was the authority’s youngest member.

He is chair of the speakers panel (licensing) and a member of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund’s management/advisory panel, Tameside North Strategic Neighbourhood Forum, and the Speakers Panel (Liquor Licensing).

Cllr Drennan, who will also be Tameside’s first openly LGBT mayor, lives with his partner, Cory James. Mr James, who qualifies as a nurse later this year, will be the Civic Mayor’s Consort.

Outside the authority, Cllr Drennan supports the homeless project at Ashton’s Station pub and has close links with the borough’s Indian and Asian communities, regularly taking part in their cultural events. He is also a keen student of history and international affairs.

For relaxation, Cllr Drennan likes to travel and among the many countries he has visited are Thailand, China, Vietnam and most of eastern Europe.

The Mayor-elect said: “I’m highly honoured to be the new Civic Mayor of Tameside and very much looking forward to my time in office. I know I face a hectic schedule and lots of hard work, but I’m confident it will be very rewarding.

“I’m especially looking forward to working with as many community groups and schools as possible, and to meeting volunteers of all ages.”

The deputy mayor-elect is Cllr Eleanor Wills of Dukinfield – Stalybridge ward whose father, Mike Ballagher, was civic mayor in 1996-97. Her consort will be her husband, Mr David Wills.