WALLINGFORD'S next mayor has set out his vision for the town as he looks forward to a ‘flamboyant’ inauguration next month.

Lee Upcraft, who is a town councillor and deputy mayor, says he is excited to start the role and keen to promote two particular initiatives.

“It should be an interesting year”, the 42-year-old said.

“There is a lot going on in Wallingford at the moment, but the big issues are the Regal Centre, that needs replacing, and the Bull Croft Park. We definitely need some new facilities for children and families.

“I am chairman of the working group for [the Regal Centre]. We need funding put in place.”

The Regal Centre, a former cinema dating back to 1934, was closed indefinitely last autumn, while Bull Croft Park is a play area for children in the town centre.

Mr Upcraft, who has lived in Wallingford for 15 years and has two young daughters at local schools, will officially take up his new position next month.

On May 14, he is set to be formally selected by the council, having beaten competition from councillors Maureen Norton and Matthew Cockman at a meeting last month.

“He said: "It’s a bit flamboyant, we get the mace bearer out and we have the ‘loving cups’ – a medieval ceremony recognising that councillors should watch the back of their colleagues.

“Councillors stand in a circle, back to back in pairs. A goblet (the loving cup) is filled with a strong liquor and passed round. Each councillor bows to the other, takes a sip, and the pair then rotate to face the next pair and the cup is passed on.

“It’s a unique ceremony locally, in acknowledgement of our traditions and history.”

After that event, there is a civic ceremony on May 20, where the new mayor is summoned from his home, before joining a procession through the town.

Mr Upcraft, who works as a physicist, was previously the chairman of UKIP in Oxfordshire but insisted his own politics would not impact his mayoral role.

He said: "I do not believe there is any place for party politics at town and parish level.

“I am there to promote the town and its interests."

“I like Wallingford, it’s got everything you would need, lots of community events.”

Mr Upcraft says he left UKIP over two years ago and is not a member of another party.  

Asked if he would seek re-selection, he joked: “Ask me again in a year,” bur added: “I would not stand again immediately. I would let someone else have a go.”