EAST Grinstead's new mayor is 50-year-old Stephen Barnett, who assumed his duties at the traditional mayor-making ceremony in May.

Stephen lives in Ashurst Wood with his wife Pauline and has two children - 22-year-old James, and 16-year-old Sackville student Elizabeth.

The couple moved to the area in 1997 when Stephen started started work for Seeboard (now part of EDF Energy) and have come to love their adopted home.

One of the key reasons we like living here so much is the character of local people and organisations, said Stephen. I find that representing a community that never holds back its opinions is both a challenge and a real bonus because it shows residents care so much about where they live.

Stephen was first elected to Mid Sussex District Council in 1999 to represent Ashurst Wood and the adjoining area of East Grinstead, at a time when the village was an integral part of the area covered by the Town Council. And he remains a district councillor for the Worsted area of the town.

He was elected to the Town Council in 2003 to represent the Town Centre ward and moved to the adjacent Herontye ward on re-election in 2007, following his involvement in contesting development proposals affecting the area along with Imberhorne.

On accepting the mayoral chain Stephen said: I have always taken the view that once elected any councillor should represent all residents in their area equally no matter what their political views.

The honour of being elected Mayor extends that responsibility to all residents across the town and I look forward to visiting as many of them as possible in the coming year.

Stephen has nominated two charities to support during his year as East Grinstead's first citizen - both of them connected with one of the towns most illustrious adopted sons, Sir Archie McIndoe, the pioneering plastic surgeon who treated many badly-burned airmen during WWII.

The first is the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation at the Queen Victoria hospital, which remains a world leader in the research of burns treatment.

The second is the Town Museum which has recently taken custodianship of an extensive collection of artifacts associated with Sir Archibald McIndoe and his famous Guinea Pigs as his patients were dubbed.

* Stephen's deputy is Cllr Bob Mainstone.

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