Stockport Nub News spoke to Cllr David Wilson, who served as Mayor of Stockport from May 2022-23, alongside Mayoress Jeannette Slavinski. He reflected on his tenure, the recent Town of Culture accolade, and on Stockport generally.  

The Mayor and Mayoress had a momentous year in office, a tenure which coincided with the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III, a Town of Culture title, widespread investment and construction, and a whole host of other events and celebrations. 

Cllr Wilson first of all describes his 'fond memories' of incumbency. What stands out particularly, he says, is the proclamation of King Charles III as monarch. "I remember standing on the balcony and reading a very ornate, almost Shakespearean announcement. The last time something similar was read was in 1952.

"Wellington Road was closed off so people could gather around. There were around 1,500-2,000 people there, including lots of other councillors and ex-Mayors."

Yet Cllr Wilson spent as much time with local organisations, schools, and charities as with grandiose royal affairs. He also gives special mention to Mayoress Jeannette Slavinski, whose interest, enthusiasm and work at 'so very many' of these events was outstanding. 

The ex-Mayor and Mayoress attended events all across the borough in a packed schedule (Image - Cllr David Wilson)

From Christmas tree contests to charity visits, travels took the Mayor and Mayoress across the whole of Stockport, from Romiley to Reddish and Bramhall to Brinnington, something which Cllr Wilson described as another positive aspect of the role; "I saw lots of Stockport, including parts I didn't know very well", he says. 

He also jokingly adds that "mayors often put on a few pounds on account of eating cake at so many events". Nonetheless, attending events is 'very important', he says, and makes being mayor very much a full time job.   

Prior to the post, Cllr Wilson was first elected to the council in 2009, and concurrently worked as a machine operator. He adds that he may well be the only serving mayor with a license to operate a forklift truck.   

Speaking of becoming mayor, he describes it simply as 'the way events fell'. It is not, he says, a role which he particularly expected to receive.  

Cllr Wilson's duties took him across Stockport, and indeed across the country (Image - Cllr David Wilson)

He also outlines the importance as mayor of remaining as fair and neutral as possible. The ex-Mayor describes taking a 'conscious neutral' approach, trying to stay away from debates both between and within parties. "The only time I would weigh in on social media would be to defend Stockport", he says.  

It is certainly clear that Cllr Wilson remains highly positive about the town and is proud of being a born and bred Stopfordian.  

On the recent Town of Culture accolade, he expressed his hopes that parts of the £50,000 grant accompanying the title would find its way to the whole of the borough, as well as just the town centre.  

Now a councillor for Reddish North, Cllr Wilson describes the change in composition of the council. Old faces have left, but he says he is looking forward to working with new colleagues in Cllr Rachel Wise and Cllr Holly McCormack. His work continues, then, but on a more local basis. 

He is succeeded by Cllr Graham Greenalgh as Mayor of Stockport.

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