Southampton welcomes new Lord Mayor in annual Mayor Making ceremony

Southampton will welcome its new Lord Mayor on 17 May in a traditional Mayor Making ceremony at the O2 Guildhall

The prestigious event will mark the start of the Lord Mayor’s year-long term of office and will be attended by civic dignitaries, councillors, and members of the public.

Mayor Making is an opportunity for the city to come together to welcome and appoint its new Lord Mayor (Councillor Valerie Laurent) and its Sheriff (Deputy Lord Mayor).

The Lord Mayor is recognised as the ‘first citizen’ of Southampton and Honorary Admiral of the Port - playing an important ambassadorial role in representing the city at a local, regional, and national level.

Lord Mayor status was bestowed upon Southampton in 2022, with Queen Elizabeth II making the final decision as part of her Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours competition. Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, visited the Civic Centre in February 2023 to unveil the Letters Patent – the official document confirming the city’s Lord Mayor status.

Southampton’s Mayor Making ceremony will take place on 17 May at 11am and will be attended by the outgoing (and first Lord Mayor of Southampton) Councillor Jacqui Rayment, who has served for the past year.

Councillor Valerie Laurent, who has served as the city’s Sheriff (Deputy Lord Mayor) for the past 12 months, will be confirmed Lord Mayor after taking the oath of office and receiving the Lord Mayoral chain and robes. She will also announce her chosen charities for the year.

One of Councillor Laurent’s key responsibilities as Lord Mayor will be to Chair Full Council meetings, and she will play a leading role in attending many engagements each week representing the city and the council.

Doors for Mayor Making open at 10.30am and it is free to attend.