News

Mayor Montgomery Elected for 2010/11 Term

04 June 2010

At North Down Borough Council's Annual Meeting on Thursday 3 June, Councillor John Montgomery was unanimously elected as Mayor of North Down for 2010/11. 

Councillor Harry Dunlop was elected Deputy Mayor.

Speaking at the meeting Mayor Montgomery said: "It is a singular honour to be the Mayor of North Down and would wish to thank the Council and Local DUP Party for giving me this wonderful opportunity.  Every Mayor brings about different priorities and I will be no exception.  In this time of dramatic economic upheaval within our United Kingdom my wish is for an improving economic situation within North Down for the benefit of all our residents, businesses and traders.  Indeed I am desperately concerned about our town centre and wish to see our principal shopping area substantially improved.  I continue to believe working people are a forgotten majority, the source of all funding, and will hope the new Government in Westminster will be mindful of such.

I am keen to see Arts continuing to develop in the town and will follow the expansion of the Aspects Irish Literature Festival with keen interest.  The Britain in Bloom competition is another area where the efforts of so many in Council and indeed residents have already brought us the honour of a silver award, followed by silver gilt with the hope of the ultimate prize, the gold award. 

We are a family of five.  Our eldest is an Economist, the second a Software Engineer, the youngest just finished school with hopes of entering Queens training to be a nurse.  Kathleen and I will be married forty years this year.

Currently I am employed as a Technology Technician at Movilla High School in Newtownards but have had quite a variety of jobs over the years.  In the town I operated a Video TV servicing business for some time but perhaps my most unusual job was with the BBC world service transmitter.

Outside my Council work I keep a keen interest in computing.  I love to try our new programmes or versions as they come along, I would not be particularly artistic so my interest is more technical.  Part of my DUP and Council work involves hosting the local party webpage in addition to my more personal version at www.wjmontgomery.co.uk.  With so many demands it is hard to keep the websites updated but I do receive a constant stream of press statements from my DUP colleagues at www.nddup.org.uk

My other major interest is in photography, and will usually be found with a camera in hand at Council events.  I don't print a lot of photographs rather I produce internet slideshows for fellow councillors and family to enjoy. 

During this year I hope to witness the beginnings of our new 50 metre pool and leisure centre to be built alongside the developing walled garden, there is much that is good within our Borough with which I will take pride in sharing during my term as Mayor."

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