TOWN councillors in Marlborough have given their unanimous support to Coun Hilary Cripps becoming the town's next mayor.

Coun Cripps, currently the deputy mayor, was selected on Monday by her colleagues to be the town's leading citizen for 2005-06. She will be formally elected at the traditional mayor making ceremony in May.

Coun Cripps was the only nomination for mayor and there was a unanimous vote from her colleagues at the full council meeting on Monday.

After the meeting another tradition was observed when Coun Cripps treated her colleagues to drinks at the Castle and Ball Hotel.

The mother-of-three, who has eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren, has lived in Marlborough since 1952. She attended Mildenhall Village School before going to the old Secondary Modern when it was on The Common.

Coun Cripps previously served as a Kennet district councillor and has been a West ward town councillor for six years.

She said: "I have fully supported the new St John's School going on one site because I always hated the cold and draughty school I went to on The Common.

"I hated every minute of it and that is why I want to see the children of Marlborough and district get the best possible education in the best environment we can provide."

During her year in office she plans to introduce a young people's award scheme to recognise some of the good work carried out by youngsters.

Coun Cripps is also planning a fitting farewell for the crew of HMS Marlborough when the ship is decommissioned in the summer.

She has another and rather more unusual mission, too, to find the mayoral pennant that was used in bygone years. Her husband Les' late father Arthur ran a taxi service and when carrying the mayor was always provided with a pennant to go on the car bonnet for official duties. "Where is it now?" she asked.