New mayor's job is no easy ride (From Stroud News and Journal)

New mayor's job is no easy ride

Motorbikes and art are not the most obvious combination of interests. But add a passion for local politics and you have Sue Reed, the new mayor of Nailsworth. Alli Pyrah caught up with her as she prepares to don the robes of office.

A MOTORBIKE enthusiast who teaches art seems an unlikely choice for the new mayor of Nailsworth.

But after 10 years in local politics, Sue Reed is putting down her paintbrush and picking up the ceremonial chains.

"They have got two spikes on them in the shoulders which I think were made for men to put in shoulder pads," she explains.

"But I don't like wearing jewellery so they are very conspicuous."

Having swapped the leathers for the official uniform, she is now comfortably filling the robes of her predecessor Lesley Williams-Allen.

This is partly due to the unconventional 'in-house training' at Nailsworth Town Council, which is not known for bickering over party politics.

The mayorship passes from one councillor to the next by way of a diplomatic rota system, while the deputy, who is currently Norman Kay, is considered 'in training' for the top job.

"When I was deputy for Lesley, she was an excellent role model because she used to keep me in the loop with everything that was going on," said Sue.

"So when I took over from her I was very clear about the bigger picture. I am working with Norman in the same way.

"I think we'll make a very good team. I'm good at having an overview, whereas I hate detail.

"Norman likes detail and has a lot of knowledge of the district and county council. It's a very supportive group of people. We work together so well that being mayor is not that different to being deputy.

"I think the best thing so far is the way people have stopped me in the street and said congratulations.

"I feel people really will communicate directly with me through the town council.

"My least favourite thing is that I can't ride my bicycle incognito now, because I used to scoot down the places that said no cycling."

Along with three other former mayors, Stroud MP David Drew and members of Nailsworth Silver Band, the pair have just returned from a trip to Leves, organised by Nailsworth's twinning group.

"It was great," she said with a smile. "We ate a lot and drank a lot. People were very friendly and hospitable.

"It was good to have so many ex-mayors. In Leves, we called Lesley the grand mayor to avoid confusion. She thought she was going to retire, but now she's got this nickname of grand mayor."

The mother of British rowing star Peter Reed, Sue became involved in local politics in the early 1990s while campaigning to save a local school.

"I have always supported the town council because I think that's where you can work with local people and make things happen," she said.

Since moving to Nailsworth in 1983, her work for the local community has included organising the Nailsworth Festival.

"The festival is a year long process, so as soon as one finishes you start thinking about the next," she said.

"The programme has to be set out by November or December because you have to go looking for funding.

"I think that's the fantastic thing about Nailsworth - there are over 40 voluntary groups and they cater for children through to retired people so it's very diverse."

Over the next year, her priorities will include the old market feasibility study, which is up for public debate in September, ensuring that the town keeps its full-time youth worker, and supporting Forest Green Rovers and Nailsworth Primary School, which her children, Sarah, 25, Peter, 23 and Robert, 21 all attended.

She will juggle her mayoral responsibilities with her job teaching art at Ruskin Mill.

"I think we are going to have a busy two years," she said. "Nailsworth's a very dynamic location and because of that there are always things happening.

"I think the priority is to maintain the good things that the town council has done in the past and take on the all these new projects. I think the art might have to take a back seat for a bit, realistically."