Keith honoured as choice of new Sandwell mayor

Long-standing Sandwell Councillor Keith Davies has been announced as the borough's next mayor.

Councillor Davies started his career in 1986, first in Newton ward and then in Smethwick ward.

He has represented the community for the past 20 years. In that time he has held roles including cabinet member for community safety, the chairman of Smethwick Town Committee and a board member on Sandwell Homes and Sandwell Leisure Trust.

Currently he represents Sandwell on the West Midlands Police Authority.

He said: "I hope I have made a positive difference to people's lives over the years. I am thinking hard about which charity or charities to support during my mayoral year, there are so many organisations doing fantastic work locally.

"Looking back, one of the things which really stands out is the re-organisation of two primary schools, Gorse Farm and Tanhouse, into one highly successful one, Ferndale Primary School, and with it the opening of the Tanhouse Community Centre in 1992, which now houses the library, Meals on Wheels, The Miners. Centre and many community activities.

"Another thing I look back on as something really worthwhile was the introduction of the Warden Service, which happened when I was the cabinet member."

Councillor Davies is the chairman of governors at Ferndale primary and the committee chairman at Tanhouse. He has lived in Great Barr for the past 30 years with wife Pat, also a Sandwell councillor, for Hateley Heath, who will be Mayoress.

He has worked for Geopost UK, which is based in Smethwick and Oldbury, for 15 years.

He said: "They are tremendously supportive for the work I do."

His deputy will be fellow Smethwick ward member, councillor Vic Sylvester.