New Telford & Wrekin mayor aims to raise hospice's profile
The new Mayor of Telford & Wrekin says his ambitions for the year ahead include raising the profile of Severn Hospice, which helped him through his own cancer battle 10 years ago.
Councillor Stephen Reynolds was elected as Mayor for the upcoming year during last week's annual council meeting and mayor making ceremony.
His mayoral charity for the year will be Severn Hospice, where he has been volunteering for the past six years.
The 59-year-old, wo lives in Trench, said: "It's very close to my heart. 10 years ago I wasn't given much hope.
"I had cancer. I was offered a place on the day unit at the hospice in Apley.
"I went there for two years. They got me right.
"It's such a wonderful place. The volunteers are lovely people, the nursing staff are exceptional."
Councillor Reynolds spent his working life as a customer relations officer for Severn Trent Water and has done voluntary work in retirement for Severn Hospice and the National Trust.
He said: "My priority is to make people more aware of what the hospice does.
"A lot of people think the hospice is the place where people end their days.
"It's not at all. It's a place where people do get well. It is a place of solitude, peace and certainly in the day unit we treat people with the respect they deserve."
He said he was honoured to take up the mayoral role and was excited to get started.
The new Mayor will be supported during his term in office by his wife, the mayoress Councillor Shirley Reynolds.
He is one of three elected members representing the Oakengates and Ketley Bank ward on Telford & Wrekin Council.
He is also a member of Oakengates Town Council, where he has served as mayor three times, and became a borough councillor at the 2015 election.
Councillor Reynolds said: "It really is an honour. I'm excited.
"I was deputy mayor last year. I had a very enjoyable year and went to some really enjoyable events.
"I'm a real people person. I like to meet people from any walk of life.
"Hopefully I will put them at ease and can talk to them and see what pains and anguishes they are going through.
"Hopefully by being the Mayor I can bring theses issues and worries to the forefront."
Councillor Reynolds was born in Birmingham and grew up in Solihull.
He moved to Trench in Telford 35 years ago and is married with two children.
He is also the church warden at Holy Trinity Church in Wrockwardine Wood.
Councillor Reynolds took over from his predecessor, outgoing mayor Rae Evans.
Councillor Raj Mehta has also been elected as deputy mayor for the upcoming year.
He became a borough councillor in the Horsehay and Lightmoor Ward after a by-election last year and is also a member of Ketley Parish Council.
Councillor Mehta has worked with the NHS for nearly two decades and runs a surgery.
