FORMER Pilks worker Stephen Glover has described his pride after being sworn in as the new Mayor of St Helens at a ceremony on Wednesday (May 20).

Cllr Glover was handed the mayoral chain by predecessor Geoff Pearl at the town hall.

The Rainhill councillor, has been deputy mayor for the past year.

He was born in Grange Park, St Helens, and grew up in the town’s Windlehurst district.

He attended St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School and then went on to Grange Park School.

After his education, he was employed by Pilkington Brothers and worked in their laboratories at Eccleston Grange.

After several years, Councillor Glover was successful in applying for a new role at Pilkington’s Cowley Hill works, where he was a member of the newly formed Statistical Quality Control Team where he remained until 2001.

His wife of 34 years, Windle councillor Lynn Glover will be mayoress. They have four children from previous marriages, Leighton, Simon, Alison and Lynsey, with Leanne completing the family in 1982. They also have nine grandchildren.

On his election, Cllr Glover said: "I wish to put on record how privileged and honoured I am to be given the chance to become mayor of St Helens.

"Born and bred and living in this town of ours there's no greater acclaim I could have. We promise to represent out town to the best of our abilities.

"I want to thank and congratulate Geoff Pearl and his wife for all their efforts. They will be a hard act to follow.

"And it would be remiss of me not to mention the late Mike Doyle. He persuaded me to put myself forward as a councillor in Rainhill."

Looking forward to his year in the civic office, he said: “I’m looking forward to getting out and about across the borough – and seeing first-hand some of the wonderful work that our residents do in the voluntary, charity, commercial and service sectors.

“St Helens has so many hard-working, caring and compassionate people and organisations. As Mayor, I’ll be doing my best to highlight their efforts and help them achieve the recognition they deserve.”

Councillor Glover has chosen Home-Start St Helens as his Mayor’s charity for 2015-16.

Cllr Charles Banks was also sworn in as deputy mayor at the ceremony.