POOLE-born Tony Trent has become mayor of the town with Mike Brooke elected as sheriff.

Councillor Trent has lived in the town, apart from a brief spell in Bournemouth, since he was born and was a pupil at St Aldhelm’s primary and the former Kemp Welch school.

He represents the Alderney and Bourne Valley ward as a Liberal Democrat and describes his age as “approaching 70".

He promised to look at the town’s character, improve on it, and with the help of fellow trustees enhance its reputation during his term of office.

Proposing him for the role, Cllr Vikki Slade told the Poole Charter Trustees meeting that Cllr Trent was “Poole through and through”.

She said Cllr Trent was elected in 1983 for the ward he still continues to represent and had been a councillor for 34 of the past 39 years and even when he was not a councillor local people still went to him for help.

She said that after his wife, two sons and other family members, the people he represents always had been a key driver in his life although he also has a love of music and had arranged a number of music festivals and concerts.

She described him as being concerned about environmental matters before “green” was invented and said that he was keen to ensure there was adequate provision in the town for young people.

Councillor Slade said that despite claiming not to like technology Cllr Trent was one of the first councillors to have his own internet page and on his Twitter feed described himself as a “green-tinged all-round nuisance”.

One of Cllr Trent’s former teachers, Ron Parker, also a former mayor, was among the guests at the ceremony.

Councillor Trent praised last year’s mayor, Cllr Julie Bagwell, describing her as “bubbly and outgoing” which he said contrasted his more introverted character. She now becomes deputy mayor.

He said the town had undergone “a bit of an identity crisis” in the last three years since becoming part of the wider BCP Council, and then, like everywhere else, being hit by Covid.

He said he hoped, during his term of office, that he and the charter trustees would look at what the town does well, improve on it and enhance the town’s identity.

“Despite a lot of challenges we have a vibrant presence to celebrate and can help do our bit toward a promising future,” he said.

Councillor Trent said he was delighted that his wife, Ann, would become mayoress and said that a cadet from his old air training squadron, 2391 Parkstone where he was a member from 1966 to 1971, would be a youth escort.

Broadstone councillor Mike Brooke admitted he had some reluctance in taking on the role of sheriff, which dates back to 1568, and which he described as effectively “apprentice mayor”.