BOURNEMOUTH'S new mayor will have plenty of experience to draw on as he has previously served in the role - in Christchurch.

A host of civic dignitaries turned out in their ceremonial regalia for the town's annual mayor-making yesterday.

Addressing the guests in the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth's 104th elected mayor Cllr Eddie Coope said he planned to focus on promoting "health and wellbeing" during his term.

"You had best dust off your running shoes, or perhaps we could have a workout before full council meetings," he said.

"Good health is important to us all, especially the younger generation, so let us all spread the word."

He and his wife Janet, the new mayoress, are no strangers to keeping fit themselves, participating in tennis, cycling, running and swimming.

He said he would use his 'people skills' learned in various careers to promote the town and work with the business community.

Cllr Coope takes over from former magistrate Cllr John Adams, who will serve the town this year as deputy mayor. Cllr Adams' wife Suzi will serve as deputy mayoress.

Born in Burton, Christchurch, Cllr Coope attended St Joseph's RC Primary School before going on to St Peter's RC School in Southbourne and Brockenhurst College.

He joined the Army in 1974 and was trained at the Woolwich Royal Artillery depot in London before heading out with the regiment to Germany, where he was present for the Queen's Silver Jubilee visit.

He had several tours of Northern Ireland before leaving the service in 1981.

After retraining to convert his military surveying skills to civilian life he worked as a land and hydrographic surveyor around the world, from the North Sea to the Red Sea and the deserts of Sinai.

In 1987 he set up a landscape gardening and design business and joined Christchurch Borough Council, where he would eventually serve his first term as mayor of a town in 1994-95. He was the youngest ever person in the role.

After moving to Bournemouth, Cllr Coope joined Bournemouth council in 2007, representing East Southbourne and Tuckton.

He has served on the committees of youth centres, the Sea Cadets, residents' associations and the Royal Artillery Branch Association, and in Bournemouth he has been involved with education, health and transportation committees and the Hengistbury head Education Centre board.

He married Janet, who works for Druitts Solicitors, in 1984. They have two children.

The council voted to express its thanks to Cllr Adams for his year of service, in which he became the first Mayor of Bournemouth to get married in the town hall.

Mayor Coope named his charities for the year as the Bournemouth Hospital Charity, Ringwood's Stable Home Family Trust for people with disabilities, the Bournemouth Parks Foundation and the Defence Medical Welfare Service for serving and former armed forces personnel.

The mayor's chaplain will be the Reverend John Lavers of the Sacred Heart Church, Albert Road, and the mayor's Scout and Guide - Tim Wilson and Jodie Ward.

The town's annual Civic Service takes place at St Peter's Church, St Peter's Road, at 10.30am tomorrow.