Hartlepool’s new Ceremonial Mayor is formally installed

Although Councillor Thompson was appointed Ceremonial Mayor at a meeting of the Full Council in May, the investiture ceremony itself had to be postponed until now.

A Foggy Furze Ward Councillor since 2022, Councillor Thompson was born and raised in Hartlepool and attended Lister Street School and the Ladies High School.

Having worked initially as a childminder, she later returned to education when her youngest child was five, studying firstly at Hartlepool College of Further Education on an access to health course and then gaining a degree in Occupational Therapy from Teesside University.

She worked as an Occupational Therapist, firstly in Sunderland and then at Hartlepool General Hospital for 16 years, ten of which were also for Hartlepool Hospice and Macmillan.

During that time she also studied for a Master’s Degree in the Health Sciences Cancer Care Pathway at Teesside University.

The Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool Councillor Carole Thompson (left) with the Deputy Ceremonial Mayor Councillor Melanie Morley

Councillor Thompson has a partner, Councillor Philip Holbrook, who is serving as the Mayor’s Consort, three sons - Andrew, Peter and David - and three grandchildren -Ella, Amelia and Alfie.

Her chosen charities for her year as Mayor are Alice House Hospice and Belle Vue Sports, Community and Youth Centre.

Councillor Melanie Morley was invested as the Deputy Ceremonial Mayor.

Councillor Thompson said: “I am very proud indeed to serve as Hartlepool’s Ceremonial Mayor and I am thoroughly enjoying representing the borough and getting out and meeting local people.

“Hartlepool is a brilliant town and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The people of Hartlepool are so generous, both in spirit and in action.”