Tenby’s new Mayor-elect and church ‘Souperman’ has said it will be a “huge honour” to don the scarlet robes of office for the first time, and fly the flag for the town.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, members were asked to elect a Mayor to fill the role for 2016/17, with Clr. Laurence Blackhall the only councillor to put his name forward for the position, stating he would be “honoured” if colleagues felt he was worthy of consideration.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown backed her fellow member, telling those around the table that she would be “delighted” to propose Clr. Blackhall for Mayor.

Clr. Mike Evans said that Clr. Blackhall brought “many attributes” to his role as town councillor.

“Over the past five to six years in his time as a town councillor, he has brought a lot to the table, and worked very hard and tirelessly for Tenby,” he remarked.

“He brings energy and devotes time to the town, and also brings understanding and different perspectives to the table. In his new role as Mayor, there will be plenty of role models in which he can work to.

Current Mayor, Clr. Paul Rapi also offered his congratulations to his successor.

Clr. Blackhall, who joined the town council in 2010, said that it was a “huge honour” to be given the role of Mayor of Tenby.

“I look at the board every so often at the people who have held the position around this table previously and hope I can carry on the good work with the support of everyone and work towards this truly, truly beautiful place we are proud to call our home,” he remarked.

Born in the West Midlands in 1968, Clr. Blackhall’s professional career was working in services for children and families, and lived, studied and worked all over the UK, before moving to Tenby, a place with which he has had a lifelong association, having spent many years of his life holidaying in the resort.

In 1993, he was appointed director of childcare in Walsall, and five years later became the youngest head of Early Years for the town’s council and tasked with creating one of the first integrated education and social care early years teams in the UK.

Clr. Blackhall was seconded to work for the Department of Education in 2000, in Whitehall, as an advisor on early years education, launching a flagship £600m nursery programme, which later evolved into Children’s Centres.

He is currently the chairman of Tenby’s De Valence Trust, also has a role as warden at the harbourside church of St. Julian’s, and is part of the ‘Soupermen’ catering team at St. Mary’s Church.