Stafford's new mayor sworn in

Councillor Jones has lived in Barlaston since 1974. He is a widower, his wife, Jenny, died in 2013. He has three children, Jonathan, Richard and Kathy and nine grandchildren.

Gareth was brought up in New Malden, Surrey, went to school in Merton Park and studied economics and history at the University College of Swansea.

After graduating he joined the finance department of the Metal Stamping and Body Division of the Ford Motor Company in Dagenham, Essex, working in the Cost Accounting Department. He subsequently moved to Birmingham to work for the Motorcycle Division of BSA.

He moved to the Stafford area when he was appointed the finance director of Universal Grinding Wheel Company based at Doxey, he later became general manager before moving to senior positions in the NHS in North Tyneside and Liverpool. He retired in 2008.

His first entry into local politics was as parish councillor in Barlaston and he was appointed borough councillor for Barlaston and Oulton in 2011.

He is currently chairman of the parish council. Whilst serving on the borough council Councillor Jones has been chairman of the resources and corporate services committee and has been a member of the borough council planning committee and the public appeals committee. He is non-executive director of Stafford and Rural Homes.

In 1992 Councillor Jones became Governor of Newcastle under Lyme FE College and since 2017 he has become deputy chairman of the Governors of the Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group.

Councillor Jones is currently chairman of Stone and District U3A, vice president of the Longton Probus Club and president of the Barlaston Bowling and Tennis Club. He worships at his local Anglican Church where he has been an assistant church warden in the past.

He is a keen gardener and is chairman of the Barlaston Village Show committee.

Councillor Jones said he regards this as a great honour and he looks forward with his consort, Renee Robinson, to serving the people of the entire borough and raising funds for the mayors charities, Stafford Samaritans, Douglas Macmillan Hospice and Staffordshire Women’s Aid.