Mayor sails in

ELY S new mayor plans to make full use of the city s river by sailing his way round official engagements. Cllr John Ison, former editor of the Ely Standard, will arrive by boat at every opportunity to draw attention to the river which he regards as one o

ELY'S new mayor plans to make full use of the city's river by sailing his way round official engagements.

Cllr John Ison, former editor of the Ely Standard, will arrive by boat at every opportunity to draw attention to the river which he regards as "one of the city's jewels" he told guests at Tuesday evening's Mayor Making Ceremony.

With fellow councillor, Jack Waterfall, at the helm, Cllr Ison, supported by his youngest daughter, Helen, as mayoress, hopes the move will help publicise the river's potential.

Cllr Ison, whose father was born in Sutton, will also continue the work carried on by his predecessor, retiring mayor, Cllr Bryant Watson, pictured.

He plans to push ahead with the Mayor's Olympic Initiative and carry on raising money for local charities.

Over the last year, Cllr Watson's charity appeal raised more than £15,400 which will be distributed to groups throughout the city including the Christmas Lights and Ely in Bloom.

Cllr Ison has also said he will campaign to forge links between Ely and the organisers of the Hope Project in Rwanda.

The project is working to rebuild a community for 60,000 people struggling to recover from the horrific effects of genocide.

Ely's St. John's School teacher, Kirsten Lake, lived in the Congo for 13 years and has links with the project and it was at her suggestion that Cllr Ison decided Ely's residents should get involved.

He told guests during the ceremony, at the district council chamber: "I will be proposing civic links and would urge all of your and your organisations to seek ways of helping."

At the ceremony Cllr Ron Bradney and his wife, Cathy, who run Ely's Atrium Centre, were sworn in as deputy mayor and mayoress.