Councillor Brian Taylor becomes Mayor of BwD

The new Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen is Councillor Brian Taylor, who represents the Darwen West ward.

74 year old Councillor Taylor was officially made Mayor at the annual ceremony in Blackburn Town Hall yesterday, Thursday 16 May.

The born and bred Darrener will be supported in this civic role by three of his four children: the new Mayoresses Nicola Parker, Emma Taylor and Louise Pemberton.

Councillor Brian Taylor, Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, commented:

It was an incredibly proud occasion for our family, and it was fantastic to have so many of them join us in the Council Chamber.

I’m so grateful to Nicola, Emma and Louise for being prepared to support me in my mayoral role. I’m looking forward to making some wonderful memories with them while we do our very best to represent Blackburn with Darwen as a borough, and all its residents, over the next 12 months.

Together the Mayor and Mayoresses have chosen two charities that mean a lot to them personally to represent and fundraise for over the next 12 months: Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and Papyrus, a suicide prevention charity.

The Mayor added:

I’m looking forward to representing all residents of Blackburn with Darwen, irrespective of their age or ethnicity, and to promoting our wonderful borough in as positive a light as possible.

Any businesses, groups and community organisations who would like to invite the Mayor to events or work with him to raise money for his chosen charities can fill in an online form to request his attendance.

Also at last night’s Annual Council meeting, Councillor Jacqueline Slater was appointed Deputy Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen for 2024/25.

The new Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen will be joined by dignitaries from across the area this Sunday, 19 May, known as Civic Sunday.

Everyone is welcome to attend – tea and coffee will be served in King George’s Hall from 11am, ahead of the procession which leaves at 11.40am. After walking through the town centre and on to Blackburn Cathedral, the service will begin at 12noon.

After the service, at around 12.45pm, the procession will make its way to Blackburn Town Hall, where the Mayor will make the traditional Civic Sunday speech to mark the start of his Mayoral year.

 

About Councillor Brian Taylor

Councillor Brian Taylor was born in Darwen in 1949 and has lived in the town ever since. He is the youngest of six children, and a former pupil of St John’s CE Primary School and Spring Bank County Secondary School.

After leaving school in 1964, he started work as a toolmaker – something he didn’t really enjoy. Councillor Taylor  made a move to the shop floor of Paragon Wallpapers in Darwen. He feels fortunate to have had an inspirational boss who saw something in him and encouraged him to attend further education. He went on to achieve an associate qualification from the Institute of Industrial Mangers.

Councillor Taylor’s career took him to Crown Wallcoverings in Darwen where he worked for 33 years in production management. He then moved into a Court Administrator role with TV Licensing, as was also a representative for the Communication Workers Union. After 20 years in this role, Councillor Taylor retired in 2022 at the age of 72.

74 year old Councillor Taylor has been a Labour councillor on Blackburn with Darwen Council since 2010, first representing Sunnyhurst Ward and later Darwen West, after boundary changes.

Over the last 14 years as a ward councillor, he has served as Assistant Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, and Chair of The Place Scrutiny Committee. He has also championed Public Health and been involved in the annual Suicide Prevention Day events.

In amongst his work and councillor commitments, Brian has found time to run the London Marathon twice, fundraising for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Councillor Taylor is married to Kathleen, his wife of 38 years. Between them, they have four children and five grandchildren.

Councillor Taylor will be supported in his Mayoral role by his three daughters, Nicola, Emma and Louise, as joint Mayoresses.

Together the Mayor and Mayoresses have chosen two charities that mean a lot to them personally to represent and fundraise over the next 12 months: Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and Papyrus, a suicide prevention charity.