New mayor Cllr Andrew Malloy wants to create a skate park in Knutsford

The project was announced by Cllr Andrew Malloy on Monday as he took over as the town’s Mayor from Cllr Peter Coan in front of a record crowd.

Cllr Malloy’s focus for his mayoral year will be to help promote and support the town’s young people, and physical activity.

Cllr Andrew Malloy with the Beer Festival Team. Picture by WA16PR

He plans to take on two sponsored challenges in addition to the usual fundraising activities, a 100-mile cycle tour and a Cheshire Three Peak Challenge in memory of his father.

Speaking at the Mayor-making evening at Knutsford Academy, Cllr Malloy said: “Two major events in my life led me towards this day.

“On April 17, 2005, my father, a keen hiker and amateur but experienced mountaineer, fell and died while coming down off Tryfan in Snowdonia.

Cllr Andrew Malloy with his family. Picture by WA16PR

“That had a profound impact on my life. I tried to do everything I could to help keep the memory of my father alive, and to support the mountain rescue team which recovered my dad.

“In 2011 my good friend and Town Plan colleague, Laurie Burton, suddenly died.

“Laurie and I had often discussed how to better support the people of Knutsford, and his death was the final trigger I needed to decide to stand for the town council.

“Looking to the year ahead, two things have become increasingly important to me, health and family, and my wife Nicole and young children Adam and Luis.

Knutsford's new mayor Cllr Andrew Malloy. Picture by WA16PR

“My focus will be to help promote and support the young people of our town, and the best way I know to keep fit and healthy – physical activity.

“I want to help promote all the wonderful physical activities in our town.

“My Cheshire Three Peak Challenge will be in memory of my father, doing what he loved so much, and I loved to do with him.

“My key aims for the year are youth and activity. We will work towards setting up a Mayor’s Charity Fund to enable other funding streams to contribute to the funds raised through the usual activities mayors before me have done.

There was a record attendance for this year's Mayor Making. Picture by WA16PR

“I shall be raising funds for a range of causes; the first will require the setting up of a youth council, initially bringing together representatives from our schools.

“The first funding pot will be to help them establish a skate park in Knutsford, something many youngsters have told me they have wanted for many years.

“The second will be a pot for our non-profit charitable and community sports groups to support youth initiatives and opportunities.

Knutsford's new mayor with Rev Paul Deakin. Picture by WA16PR

“As part of this I aim to work with many of these groups to try to pull together a weekend tour of sporting activity aimed at showcasing what they have on offer.”

Reverend Paul Deakin of St Cross Church is to be the Mayor’s Chaplain, and the Civic Service is at St Cross Church on June 23. Cllr Malloy’s wife Nicole is to be the town Mayoress.

Meanwhile, four groups are to benefit from Cllr Peter Coan’s record-breaking year as Knutsford’s Mayor.

Cllr Peter Coan handed over the chains to new mayor Cllr Andrew Malloy. Picture WA16PR

Cllr Coan, who handed over the chain of office to Cllr Malloy on Monday, raised almost £15,000 during his mayoral year, a record total.

The money is to be divided between The Welcome, Knutsford Heritage Centre, Friends of the Moor and Knutsford Community First Responder Trust.

Cllr Coan said he was ‘euphoric’ at the total raised for his mayoral charities, without any matched funding, as well as a record total raised at the Mayor’s Ball.

The audience at Monday's Mayor Making. Picture by WA16PR

He thanked the townspeople for their support for his fundraising events.

He said: “Together we raised almost of £15,000; I say ‘we raised’, because it was not me. It was you, the people who love our town. You came, you supported, you donated.”

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He thanked his wife Ann for her ‘unconditional and unstinting support’ as the mayoress, and presented her with a bouquet of her favourite white roses and a ladies spade for her to use in their garden, so – he joked - he didn’t have to look constantly for his.

He also thanked his PA Annabel Irvine and presented her with a hand-carved owl created by wood carver Andy Burgess.

Cllr Andrew Mallow with other Cheshire dignitaries. Picture by WA16PR

He added: “I would also like to thank all the staff in the office for their efforts this year in supporting our councillors, and the town councillors from my civic year for the outstanding work done they have done.

“I thank the townsfolk for helping shape the future of our town, and all the thousands of hours you put in, not to benefit yourselves but to help secure our future and keep our town a place fit to live and prosper in.

“I would also like to thank Max Risley for his help and voluntary support as the Mayor’s cadet.”