THE new mayor of Bournemouth will formally take up the role on Friday.

At Bournemouth Council’s annual meeting, mayor-elect Cllr Derek Borthwick will be appointed to the position, possibly becoming the last ever.

He described the opportunity as a “privilege” and said he was “very honoured” to be chosen for the role.

At the Mayor-Making ceremony, which will take place at the Pavilion Theatre in Westover Road, Cllr Borthwick will be invested with the badge and Chain of Office while outgoing mayor Cllr Lawrence Williams will take on the deputy mayor role.

During the event, Cllr Borthwick will also announce the charity he intends to support over the next year.

“I’m very honoured and privileged to be representing the town as the mayor this year,” he said.

“I am looking forward to working hard on the behalf of our local residents and my chosen charity in what I’m expecting to be a very challenging but fantastic year.”

Speaking in March about the possibility of being the last mayor of the town, Cllr Borthwick said: “I was just thinking last night that I will be the last Mayor of Bournemouth under its present name.

"The idea is there will still be a ceremonial mayor for each town, until at some point in the future I imagine people will accept there is just one conurbation and that will be it.

“It is a role of honour, you are there to represent the town and should do your years before taking it on.”

The new mayor will also be leading Bournemouth’s Annual Civic Service at St Peter’s Church on Sunday.

The traditional service is held to welcome the mayor to the town.

The civic procession will leave from the Pavilion at 10.18am along Westover Road to the church to meet the town rector, the Rev Dr Ian Terry, who will lead the service.

At the end of the service, the civic procession will return to the pavilion along the same route.

The procession will stop traffic for about 10 minutes each way.