Councillor Jamie Day has been elected as the new mayor of St Albans, replacing Cllr Anthony Rowlands.
The change in leadership happened on Tuesday, May 22 at the annual meeting of the council with Cllr Jenni Murray rising to the position of deputy mayor.
Cllr Day, who has been a district councillor since 2006, representing the Hill End ward, becomes the city's 480th mayor — a tradition dating back to 1553.
He said: "I am honoured to have been elected to this historic position and look forward to an exciting year ahead.
"I will be seeking, like my predecessor, to raise money for the Fund for the Future which supports so many important causes across the district.
"I’ll also be seeking to promote sustainability in any way I can as it is a cause dear to me and one of the biggest issues facing us all."
Cllr Day will head the full council meetings and represent the city at a range of events, particularly those tied with voluntary and charity groups.
Born in Portsmouth, Cllr Day gained an agricultural degree from Reading University, before he and his wife Liz moved to St Albans in 1984.
Here, he took on roles including a teaching position at the Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture (which later became Oaklands College) and worked for the British Pig Association.
His career also brought him to the heart of government, lobbying politicians in Westminster and Brussels as part of a large agricultural trade body.
Following this, Cllr Day transitioned into agricultural journalism, even setting up his own publishing company.
Outside of his work commitments, Cllr Day held local roles such as Colney Heath Parish Councillor and became a member of the South Herts branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.
He played an integral part in organising the first St Albans Beer Festival in 1996 and has participated in all subsequent events since.
Cllr Day and his wife Liz, now mayoress, are parents to two sons, both Verulam School alumni, and are now proud grandparents to their growing families.
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Deputy Mayor Cllr Jenni Murray has been a district councillor for Batchwood ward since 2022, and has served on the planning committee and the city neighbourhoods committee.
Born and brought up in St Albans, she was educated at Aboyne Lodge, Garden Fields and Townsend Schools as well as the former St Albans College of Further Education - and now works as a school student support officer.
Married in St Albans in 1991, she has six children and six grandchildren, and is a member of St Albans Museum Black History Research Group and St Albans Faith and Cultural Enterprise (FACE).
Passionate about Caribbean genealogy, she traced her family tree with her late father Cyril Roper who died in 2020 after suffering from prostate cancer.
She is currently a trustee for an Alms House in St Albans and enjoys supporting St Albans Community Pantry.
Jenni is also an active member of St Albans New Testament Church of God where her mother is the minister.
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