A VETERAN councillor who once said he couldn’t bear the pomp and ceremony of the borough’s mayoralty has accepted a nomination to be deputy mayor of Colchester.

Tim Young, who has severed on Colchester Council for 28 years, was nominated for the role by Highwoods Indepedent Gerard Oxford at a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Wednesday.

Mr Young is the second longest serving member on the council but said in the past he wouldn’t be able to stick to the political neutrality needed of the borough’s first citizen.

The Mayor of Colchester is also required to wear ceremonial robes, sing God Save the Queen at official events and partake in traditions such as the Opening of the Oyster Fisheries.

Mr Young said he had a change of heart after being replaced as deputy leader of the council last year, by his wife Julie, from whom he is separated.

The Labour stalwart said: “I am delighted, honoured, privileged and a bit humbled to be nominated. The phrase which comes to mind is ‘It is not good to get older if you do not get wiser’.

“Obviously I am not on the cabinet any more and it would have been impossible to do it whilst I was.

“Some of the pomp and circumstance has not always sat comfortably with me but I have set it to one side to think about all the good I can do.

“People have been asking already whether I will wear the robes but that is part of the honour.

“All the tradition and ceremony will be given the dignity and respect which goes with being the borough’s first citizen.

“I used to say to people I could not be politically neutral for 12 minutes let along 12 months, but given the change in my circumstances, party politics has been put to one side and I want to concentrate on promoting Colchester.”

Mr Young says his time spent as escort when Julie was deputy mayor and mayor in 2015 also helped change his mind.

He said: “It opened my eyes to all the good things involved such as fundraising for charities and seeing all the good work which goes on unreported in Colchester.

“I am also doing it for Greenstead. When Julie was mayor people in the community were really proud of her and they would like to see me do it too I am sure.”

Mr Young’s nomination will have to approved at full council next month, although there is an gentleman’s agreement nominations are respected.

If approved he would take over the role in 2022 following on from Conservative Robert Davidson who will success mayor Nick Cope next month.

Mr Young said: “I know Robert is going to be an excellent mayor. He is quite a character and has the best interests of Colchester at heart.

“He will do things his way and then I will do things my way.”