BOBBIE Chettleburgh was made Salisbury's 743rd mayor during the colourful mayor-making ceremony in St Thomas's Church on Saturday.

Some of the biggest crowds seen for years lined the streets of Salisbury in brilliant summer sunshine to watch the traditional procession of charter trustees, civic dignitaries from Salisbury and other towns in Wiltshire plus Salisbury's Freemen of the City walk from the Guildhall to the city's parish church for the ancient ceremony.

Mrs Chettleburgh, who was born during World War II in Tisbury and went to Tisbury and Hindon schools, was described by her proposer, Cllr Paul Sample, as a "true moonraker," a "caring, effervescent, charming and friendly" lady who would be "more than worthy of the title of mayor."

She has spent all her life in south Wiltshire coming to Salisbury in 1958. Following her marriage to her husband Malcolm in the then St Edmund's Church, they opened the Abbey Stores grocery and general stores in Salt Lane which they ran until 1999.

Mrs Chettleburgh became a councillor in 1995 and, in addition to her local government role, she is also well-known in the city as a member and chairman of the Salisbury Local History Society, a trustee of Salisbury Museum and a member of the Greencroft New Alliance.

She is a school governor and was instrumental in setting up the successful St Edmund's Community Group.

Mr Sample told guests at the mayor-making ceremony that outgoing mayor, Cllr Sue Mallory, would be a "hard act to follow."

But he went on: "If there is anyone here today that can do it, it is Bobbie Chettleburgh."

In her first speech as mayor, Mrs Chettleburgh joined Sue Mallory in expressing their sadness that Su Thorpe had lost her chance of being this year's mayor after her election defeat in May.

Mrs Chettleburgh praised Sue Mallory who she said "had smiled all the way through her mayoral year."

She said: "It is a great honour for me. I will be an ambassador for the city. Those of you who know me, know of my love for this beautiful city. It is unique and steeped in history and I am proud to become part of that tradition."

Mrs Chettleburgh announced that her husband will be her consort and that her mayoral appeal will be two-fold.

It will provide a book of remembrance for those from Salisbury who were killed during the two world wars and in subsequent conflicts.

The book will be on permanent display in St Thomas's Church and, she said, a page will be "turned daily" and will commemorate those from the city who fell on that day so they can be remembered.

The second arm of her appeal will raise money for the ongoing programme of conservation and restoration of the fabric of St Thomas's Church, the parish church of Salisbury and of the charter trustees.

Her deputy mayor for the coming year will be Cllr Jeremy Nettle and her chaplain is the rector of St Thomas's, the Rev Charles Hatton.