THE new Mayor of Burnley, Enid Tate, promised a year of pride and dignity as she took over the reins of civic leadership.

Retired headmistress Mrs Tate became one of the few ever to hold both the office of mayor and mayoress in the long history of the town - having been mayoress to Mary Durkin 15 years ago.

She declared at her town hall installation ceremony: "It is impossible for me to find words to express adequately my pride in finding myself in this position today."

And she added: "I pledge to you all, and the people of the borough, that I and my mayoress will do our utmost to be worthy of the positions and to represent Burnley with dignity and to bring pleasure to all we meet." Her words had extra meaning on a day when the shame of her predecessor Peter Swainston, who quit as mayor two months ago following a court conviction for gross indecency in public toilets, was still fresh in the minds of many present.

Mrs Tate gave an assurance that she and the mayoress, her friend Cynthia Sanderson, would do their utmost to justify the confidence placed in them.

She thanked her husband Maurice, a former councillor and life-long Conservative party stalwart. "Without his patience, understanding and encouragement, I should not be here today," she said.

Mrs Tate said her charity fund for the civic year would be to support the local Hospice, Parkinson's Disease research, new toys for Burnley hospital children's wards and to the Lifeboat Association.

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