7:33pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
By Rebecca Lowe
Glowing accolades marked the election of Councillor John Marshall to the mayoralty of Barnet on Tuesday night.
Councillor John Harper, who proposed Mr Marshall for the post, described it as a "fitting crowning" for the new mayor's public service career.
Speaking at the handover cere-mony at Barnet Town Hall, he said: "During the past three years, I have appreciated the respect and affection with which Councillor Marshall is known, not just in Hampstead Garden Suburb ward, but across Barnet and beyond.
"Since 1998, when he joined Barnet Council, he has shown himself to be an energetic, diligent and effective member, and in his two cabinet posts he has proved to be passionate about education and the creation of a ladder of opportunity' for our young people."
Mr Harper commended outgoing Mayor Maureen Braun as "a hard act to follow," with her "great enthusiasm and dedication" to the job.
Councillor Melvin Cohen, seconding the nomination, described him as a "man of integrity and principle," and said: "John has a wealth of experience in local, national and international politics. Even his political opponents have regarded him as a true gentleman."
The mayor said of his appointment: "It is a great honour to be elected as the Mayor of Barnet and I hope to justify the faith that has been put in me."
Mrs Braun spoke warmly of her 12 months in office and thanked colleagues and family for support.
She said: "I have had an absolutely magical year."
Joining 67-year-old Mr Marshall as the 44th Mayor of Barnet is his friend Rosie Daniels as Mayoress, Councillor Mukesh Depala as Deputy Mayor and his wife Sadhana as Deputy Mayoress.
The Mayor's charities are Barnet Carers Centre, which supports informal carers in the borough, and Chai Cancer Care, which helps cancer sufferers and their families.
Mr Marshall, a financial journalist and former stockbroker, was born in London and educated at St Andrews University in Scotland.
Before Barnet, he was a councillor in Aberdeen and Ealing and was MEP for London North between 1979 and 1989.
He was MP for Hendon South between 1987 and 1997, including time as parliamentary private secretary to the Leader of the House of Commons between 1992 and 1995.
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