Susan Cooksley has been

selected as the new mayor elect for Wootton Bassett.

Provided she is elected, Mrs Cooksley will slip on her mayoral robes and chain on May 6 at the mayor-making ceremony.

Coun Cooksley, 48, of Garraways, Woodshaw has selected the Arthritis Research Council for her mayoral charity.

She said: "They have a very active Wootton Bassett branch who are always organising events like sponsored walks, quiz nights and a yearly craft

exhibition to raise money."

It was through their craft fair that Coun Cooksley first became involved with the ARC, as she is an accomplished artist herself who sells greetings cards, gifts and needlework at the weekly Wootton Bassett market.

In the five years that she has been on the council, Coun Cooksley has put her artistic talents to good use by helping to make the Wootton Bassett war memorial become a reality.

She has also chaired the amenities committee and worked on the thorny issue of a Wootton Bassett skatepark and is currently leading the public consultation into the issue of the town's full graveyard.

Coun Cooksley was also a fighter in the long-running battle to re-open the Station Road toilets, and lambasted the district council for taking so long to repair the damage and re-open the toilets.

She said: "I'm looking forward to my mayoral year, I think Wootton Bassett is a lovely town and I think the whole town council is working hard to keep it a separate and distinct place.

"I think the cemetery is going to become one of the big issues for next year. It is almost totally full and we are faced with the prospect of either spending half a million on a new one or starting to re-use graves.

"This is a very

serious issue and we want as much feedback as possible from townspeople."

As Coun Cooksley prepares to begin her mayoral duties, current mayor Marion Sweet is looking back over her year.

She said: "I've had a very exciting year, and I feel privileged and humbled to have met so many wonderful community groups and charities who work so hard and never get any publicity.

"From the ATC, Sea Cadets and Lime Kiln youth groups to Age

Concern and Contact the Elderly I have met some wonderful and

dedicated people."

Coun Sweet has also gone on several visits to old people's homes in the town.

She said: "I really enjoyed those visits and I helped one lady celebrate her 103rd birthday, which was lovely.

"I have done some very high-profile events like visiting St Paul's Cathedral for the Bishop of London's service, but I think it is the smaller events like meeting all the wonderful people in town that were the most enjoyable."

Coun Sweet also made history by being the first mayor of Wootton Bassett to have a Catholic civic service.

Coun Sweet's final engagement as mayor is the mayor's ball, held at the Wootton Bassett golf club on Saturday April 23. All proceeds will go towards her charity, Carers Support North Wilts.