A CITY’S new Mayor and Mayoress took the chains of office in a ceremony observed by two younger generations of their family.

Councillor Barry Curran, a St Peter’s ward councillor of the last four years, took over as the Mayor of Sunderland at a meeting of the full council last night (Wednesday May 20).

He will be assisted by his wife Carol, as Mayoress, and supported by the new Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, councillor Alan Emerson and his wife Janice.

All the new appointments were ratified by the council, before the annual, ceremonial hand-over of the chains of office.

Born in Monkweamouth, Cllr Curran now lives in nearby Seaburn.

He worked as a gas fitter for 40 years, before leaving to provide workplace training as part of the learning development team for housing provider gentoo.

As Mayor, he said he is looking forward to promoting the city and specifically helping to raise the profile of its voluntary and business community.

The Mayoral charities for the year will be Sunderland MIND, Sunderland Armed Forces Network and North-East Disabilities Resource Centre (NDRC).

Among the guests of honour at last night’s ceremony was one of the Mayor’s three sons, Barry, with fiancee Kersty, daughters Verity and Colleen with grandchildren Liam, 10, and three-year-old Olivia, plus son-in-law Robert.