Tenby greeted its 616th Mayor on Friday, when Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter, the past year's Deputy Mayor, was officially sworn in at the traditional Mayor- making ceremony at the town's De Valence Pavilion. Born in Guildford, Clr. Mrs. Rossiter, of Myrtle House, St. Mary's Street, moved to Tenby in 1950, when her father, the well-remembered Ernie Fitchett, took over as professional at Tenby Golf Club. A former member of both Tenby Inner Wheel and Ladies Circle, she is current deputy chairman of the Tenby in Bloom committee, a member of Tenby United RFC's social committee and also a governor at Tenby Infants School. First elected to the town council in July 1997, Clr. Mrs. Rossiter, who has six sons, becomes the ninth successive female in Tenby to don the scarlet robes of office. In time-honoured tradition, retiring Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, asked each councillor in turn if they would like to stand for the office of Mayor, with only Clr. Mrs. Rossiter indicating that she would like to do so. In formally proposing her, Clr. Mrs. Lane said of Clr. Mrs. Rossiter: "She has been invaluable to me as my deputy in my year in office and I'm sure she will carry out her duties as Mayor with dignity and decorum. "Nothing is more important than principles, and Tish has principles," she added. Clr. Mrs. Maureen Ward, organiser of Tenby Animal Rescue Centre, seconded the proposal. "Clr. Mrs. Rossiter has made an excellent Deputy Mayor, and last but not least, she likes dogs, and what could be more important than that!" she joked. After being elected, Clr. Mrs. Rossiter thanked her fellow councillors for their support and retiring Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Lane, for an eventful year. "It's an honour and a privilege to be elected Mayor, and I will do my utmost to fulfil my duties over the next year, without too many blonde and senior moments along the way," she laughed. She then proposed that Clr. Mrs. Lane be accepted as her Deputy Mayor, which was seconded by Clr. Mrs. Kerri Durham. "Together they have already proved that they make a great team," said Clr. Mrs. Durham. Re-appointed as Town Crier was John Thomas, with John Morgan as Sergeant at Arms, Robin Scanlon as Sergeant at Mace and Canon David Jenkins as the Mayor's chaplain. Mr. Robert Main was appointed as the Mayor's consort. A vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor was proposed by Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas, who paid tribute to Clr. Mrs. Lane's 'amazing energy'. "Sue has been a wonderful ambassador for the town, and has a real knack of making friends made by her winning smile. "Both Sue and Tish make a winning team and I wish them all the best for the year ahead," she added. The ceremony was followed by a civic dinner in the main hall, where guest speakers were Pembrokeshire County Council chairman, Clr. John Thomas, and Colonel Peter Howells, whose father, Percy, was Mayor of the town in 1944, 1946 and 1956.