Chris Townsley will be Lord Mayor of Leeds in 2004/05

10.34.54pm GMT Wed 25th Feb 2004

Cllr Mark Harris, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council has announced that Cllr Chris Townsley, from Horsforth will be the party's nominee for Lord Mayor of Leeds in the coming year. Cllr Harris said "Chris Townsley was first elected for Horsforth in 1991, but his involvement in the local community far precedes that. He has served both the Liberal Democrat Group and the Council well during his time at the Civic Hall, and has a particular interest in the arts and involvement with the Leeds Grand Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. I am sure he and his wife Margaret will serve the City well during their year of Office."

Cllr Chris Townsley said "I am extremely proud to have been nominated by my Group to serve as the first citizen of Leeds and look forward to a successful year. The Lord Mayoralty is a vibrant and vital part of the City of Leeds and I hope to do full justice to the history and responsibilities that attend the post."

Notes to Editors

Because the whole Council is up for election in June this year Cllr Townsley will be known as the 'Lord Mayor designate' until the Council AGM on the 28th June

Councillor Christopher Townsley - CV

Councillor Christopher Townsley was born in Bramley, Leeds on the 24th August 1949. He was educated at Hawksworth Wood Infant and Junior Schools and Moor Grange Secondary Modern School, Leeds.

After leaving school he became an office junior at an office equipment firm in Leeds City Centre, he was later promoted to office manager at their branch in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

In 1975 he became ' The man from the Pru' working as an insurance agent in Horsforth and Otley and later as a sales consultant for the same company gaining numerous sales achievement credits until ill health forced him to retire in 1994.

Chris Townsley joined the 'Liberal Democrat Party' in 1989 and was elected to serve the Horsforth Ward in 1991. During these early years he was also Chairman of his local party branch.

Councillor Townsley has been a member of numerous Council Boards and Committees, as well as a host of other panels and boards including Adoption and Appeals panels and 'Housing Benefits Review Board'. He also has served on 'The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority' 1991 to 1992 and 1994 to 1999, and 'The West Yorkshire Fire Authority' from 2002 to the present day. As a keen thespian himself he finds great delight in being a board member of the 'Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House' from 1991 to 1992 and 1994 to the present day and the 'West Yorkshire Playhouse' 2000 to present day.

For relaxation Councillor Townsley is involved in Amateur Dramatics and is also an Equity Card carrier. He can often be seen in many of the locally filmed 'soaps' including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Heartbeat, Frost etc. as a support artiste. He is also President, former Chairman and a founder member of the Horsforth Historical Society and Museum and author of a historical booklet mapping out the history of his local hostelries.