New mayor of St Helens speaks of her pride

Cllr Jeanette Banks, who serves Moss Bank, was elected as mayor at the annual council meeting on Wednesday, May 15.

There was a “vote of thanks” for outgoing mayor Cllr Lynn Clarke, who was praised for her work during her time in the role.

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Cllr Mancyia Uddin said she would like to express her “heartfelt gratitude” to the mayor, stating that the outgoing mayor has dedicated her “time, energy and passion to serving our community with grace and dignity”.

Cllr David Baines said Cllr Clarke has been an ‘outstanding mayor’, and Cllr Clarke said she was ‘a bit emotional’ after the ‘wonderful comments’ during the meeting.

With many councillors passing on their well wishes to the outgoing mayor, Cllr Banks was elected as the new mayor.

Cllr David Banks will act as his wife's consort (Image: St Helens Council)
Born and bred in St Helens, Councillor Banks lived in Haydock throughout her formative years before moving to Newton-le-Willows where she lives with her husband Dave, a fellow councillor for Newton-le-Willows West.

Cllr David Banks has also had the honour of being Mayor in 2015-16 and will be at his wife’s side during her year in office, acting as consort, and this is believed to be the first husband and wife who have both served as mayor in St Helens.

Educated at St James Primary School and then Newton-le-Willows Grammar School, Councillor Banks went onto spend most of her working days in the borough, firstly in St Helens and Providence Hospitals, then at the Department of Work and Pensions in Earlestown.

Following that, she worked in Liverpool for twelve years in the Lourdes Hospital, before moving into education - taking up a post at St Aelred’s Catholic High School in Newton-le-Willows and then a lecturer and programme leader role at St Helens College.

First elected to the council in 2011, Councillor Banks has represented Haydock and now Moss Bank, having held a number of senior positions including cabinet portfolios for education, and health – as well as Mayoress in 2015-16.

Councillor Banks has always taken an active role in the community, continuing her school governor duties at both the Federation of St Mary’s Catholic Schools and Lyme Community Primary School in Newton-le-Willows – and is also a Eucharistic Minister at St Patrick’s Church.

For her mayoral charity appeal, Councillor Banks has chosen to fundraise for the Young Carers Centre based in Cotham Street in St Helens Town Centre, which supports young carers across the borough aged from 6-21 years of age, with recent ONS data highlighting that teenage girls in St Helens can expect to spend almost eight years of the rest of their life as an unpaid carer.

The council meeting saw food items donated to St Helens food bank (Image: St Helens Council)
Speaking of her pride, Cllr Banks said: “I am so proud and privileged to have been asked to become mayor of St Helens for the forthcoming year. I was very happy to have been mayoress when my husband, Cllr David Banks was mayor, but this is the icing on the cake that we will be able to experience this office again with me as mayor and David as my consort.”

“I would like to thank Councillor Lynn Clarke and her Mayoress for all their work this year in successfully representing St Helens. Lynn has been a credit to St Helens and has worked tirelessly this year in the office of Mayor. I only hope we can achieve as much as they have this year.”

This year's Mayor Making ceremony also saw Newton-le-Willows East ward councillor Jeanie Bell named deputy mayor for 2024-25, with a quantity of food items donated to St Helens Food Bank.

Anyone wishing to support the Mayor’s Appeal can do so by sending donations directly to the Mayor’s Secretary, Democratic Services, St Helens Borough Council, St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square, St Helens, WA10 1HP. Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Mayor’s Appeal Fund’.