Councillor Sue Little was formally invested as Hartlepool’s new Ceremonial Mayor in a special ceremony in Civic Centre last night.
A Seaton Ward Councillor since 2018, Councillor Little was born in Hartlepool and grew up in Seaton Carew.
She went to St. Teresa’s Primary School and English Martyrs School in Hartlepool, then Kirby College in Middlesbrough, where she studied hotel management.
She worked for Cleveland County Council as a care assistant in Hartlepool before helping her husband Paul to set up a mini-coach business in 2002 – a company which they continue to run today.
They have been married for 34 years and have three sons and one granddaughter. Paul will be the Mayor’s Consort during her term in office.
In her free time she enjoys crafting, walking and simply helping people as a councillor – a role she describes as “the best job.”
The Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool Councillor Sue Little
Her chosen charities for her year as Mayor are Hartlepool Baby Bank – which she has chosen in honour of her mum Joan McAlroy, who worked as a midwife in Hartlepool until the age of 72 – and Beach Access North East, with which she volunteers, which offers the free loan of beach wheelchairs to people of all ages to enable the whole family to get onto and enjoy Seaton Carew and other North East beaches.
Councillor Brian Cowie was invested as the Deputy Ceremonial Mayor.
Councillor Little said: “It’s a great honour and privilege to become the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool and I am looking forward so much to getting out and about and meeting people.
“Hartlepool is a wonderful place with a fantastic community spirit and I will be tremendously proud to represent the borough and all its residents.”