Midcheshire Independent Issue 180

3 JUNE 2025 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk PDQ LANDSCAPE & BUILDING SERVICES 07763 923005 01270 421405 From inside to outside, whatever you can imagine, we can make it come true. IF WE CAN’T DO IT NO ONE CAN! FREE QUOTE Call Steve sredmond24707825@aol.com THIRTEEN years ago, David Edwardes was homeless and sleeping in a car in Macclesfield Forest. Today he is Cheshire East’s new first citi- zen after being elected mayor of the borough by his fellow councillors. David, who represents Macclesfield Tyther- ington in the council chamber, was handed the chain of office by outgoing mayor Mar- ilyn Houston as part of the ceremony in the Tenants’ Hall at Tat- ton Park. He becomes the 16th mayor of the borough. Councillor Judy Snow- ball, who represents Broken Cross and Upton, was elected to serve as deputy mayor. The ceremony was attended by members of the council and sev- eral town mayors from around the borough. The new mayor said: “In 2012 I was homeless and sleeping in a car in Macclesfield Forest. Things certainly change in 13 years.” Speaking to the BBC he recounted how he returned to Cheshire after being unable to make a living with his family in Spain “more or less broke” and ended up sleeping in the car. He said: “A council- lor who I went to school with contacted me and said ‘I’ll find a place for you’ and he found a place in house of a friend NANTWICH Players is representing the North of England in a major theatri- cal competition. The group was taking part in the All- England Theatre Festival (AETF) English Final on at the GladstoneTheatre in Port Sunlight, with its award-winning studio production of ‘Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons’by SamSteiner. Following wins at the Cheshire, Lever- hulme, and Northern Area rounds, the team was competing against the top four amateur one-act productions in the country for the national title. Directed by Bethany Gail, the play recentlywonBestTeam, Best Décor, Best Actor(KitPhillips)andBestActress(Holly Bevins-Jones) at the Northern Final. Players take centre stage Finalists: The Nantwich Players’ production team (Photo credit: Jonathan White) ‘I WAS HOMELESS AND SLEEPING IN A CAR, NOW I’M THE MAYOR’ David is new first citizen Elected: Newmayor David Edwardes with deputy Judy Snowball of his. I stayed there until I got more or less sorted out.” Accepting the chains of office he told fellow councillors: “As mayor, I intend to promote tour- ism in Cheshire. We live in one of the most beau- tiful parts of Britain and it’s time we shared more of that and bene- fited our communities financially too. “I will be visiting our local businesses and community events across the borough. And as I don’t have a con- sort, I will be asking the appropriate local mem- ber to join me in making these visits. “I’ve also set myself the enjoyable task of visiting our centenari- ans – people who reach 100 years of age – in all 92 care homes across Cheshire East, and visit them, if possible, on their birthdays. “The past year has been a really tough one for Cheshire East Coun- cil. We’ve had to make huge cutbacks and sav- ings – and all councils are struggling. “Now we go into the new year, with new hopes and aspirations. So, I ask for your support and please your kind- ness – especially during meetings of full council!” The new mayor was first elected to the coun- cil as an independent member in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. As well as serving as vice-chair of the council, he sits on the council’s northern planning and licensing committees. His nominated may- oral charities are Windy- way Animal Sanctuary and The Round Table. Cheshire East also made former councillor Laura Jeuda an Hon- orary Alderwoman of the borough.