Todmorden Mayoralty
On Saturday 17th May, we welcomed the 111th Mayor of Todmorden, Cllr Susan Press.
Cllr Susan Press moved to the Calder Valley from Manchester almost 30 years ago whilst working as a journalist for the national and regional media including the Manchester Evening News.
Her long career in local government began in 2003 when she was elected as a Town Councillor for Hebden Royd Town Council, serving as Town Mayor there in 2008/09. In 2014, she was elected as ward Councillor for Todmorden at Calderdale Council and was an elected member for 8 years, including four as Cabinet member for Communities and Public Services. She joined Todmorden Town Council in 2022 and served as Deputy Mayor in 2023/24
Cllr Press is a long-time community volunteer in Todmorden, helping out first at the food drop-in, then based at St Mary’s, then the Old Library in Cornholme where she is a Trustee. She also volunteers at the Overgate Hospice Shop.
She said: ”It’s an absolute honour to be elected as Town Mayor and I am really looking forward to the coming year, which promises to be very exciting for our town, as work begins on the Bowling Pavilion and Bandstand projects in the Centre Vale Park, and further projects including the £1M Town Hall refurbishment as part of the Town Deal fund.
“I hope to meet as many members of the community as I can and I will also be doing my very best to raise funds for my chosen charitable causes, which are Tod Support and Age Concern Todmorden.
“Together with my Mayoress Liz Thorpe I will be working as hard as I can to support them in the amazing work they do.”
When not busy with Town Council business, Cllr Press loves nothing more than enjoying the accessibility of the surrounding countryside as a keen hillwalker.
Read Susan’s Mayor’s Day speech here.
Deputy Mayor
The Deputy Mayor for 2025-26 is Councillor Tony Greenwood.
“I am delighted to serve as Deputy Mayor. It will be a privilege to support Councillor Press, our new Mayor. I’m very much looking forward to working with her and our Council colleagues to promote our town with energy and pride.”
The Deputy Mayor’s main role is to assist the Town Mayor by undertaking the Mayor’s functions should he or she be unavailable.
The role of the Mayor includes:
- acting as an ambassador for the town
- promoting the town regionally and internationally
- fostering good working relationships with local industry and business
- supporting local charities and community groups
- chairing council meetings
- receiving regional and international visitors
- representing the town at civic functions and engagements
If you’d like to invite the Mayor of Todmorden to attend or open an event, we’d love to hear from you! Please fill out our online Town Mayor Invitation Form or download the Word document version and return it to us as directed at the top of the form.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Town Council office at 0770 632 2037 or send us a message.
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