Eight pages of the Express & Echo have been devoted to an appeal to the Government to hand Exeter the honour of its own Lord Mayor.

The paper, in its appeal, recognises there are several important criteria to be met before its request – to the Lord Chancellor, can be granted.

And there are several other cities in the running too, among them are Bath, Derby, Salford and Worcester, which all want to have Britain’s 30th office of lord mayor.

The paper’s open letter read:

Dear Lord Chancellor,
The people of Exeter would humbly ask Her Majesty to grant our historic city Lord Mayorality status.
As the English city with the oldest Mayorality, we believe Exeter has the character, dignity and importance to be worthy of such an honour. We are a city that is moving forward yet will always be proud of our rich heritage.
Exeter is “Semper Fidelis” and looks forward to Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee visit in May 2002 in the hope that it will be a Lord Mayor that greets her at St David’s Railway Station.
We remain your loyal servants.

A decision is to be announced by the Lord Chancellor’s office early next year.

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