NEW Mayor of Taunton Deane, Vivienne Stock-Williams – a former Mayor of Wellington – has begun her year in office after being chosen for the role by fellow councillors at the borough council’s annual meeting.

The Mayor’s Charities for the year ahead are Wellington-based Reminiscence Learning, Children’s Hospice South West and the Somerset National Gardens Scheme.

Cllr Stock-Williams grew up close to Epping Forest in Essex and on leaving school became a student nurse at St George’s Hospital, London, which led to a career in the medical research field.

Cllr Stock-Williams worked at the Chester Beatty Cancer Research Institute before joining a Medical Research Council epidemiological team at London University, working to prove the causal link between smoking and lung cancer.

She was among several members of the team invited to move to Oxford University to continue their epidemiological cancer research work, and remained in this field for 14 years taking time out to study for a psychology degree and returning to lead a team studying the long term effects of hormone replacement therapy.

The family moved to Cheshire when her husband Ian’s employment took him northwards where they brought up their son on the family smallholding.

In 1999, Ian’s work led the family to the Wellington area, where within the first week Cllr Stock-Williams became a trainee adviser at the CAB where she worked for several years – first, as a volunteer and subsequently as a staff member. She maintains the connection currently as trustee.

In 2003, Cllr Stock-Williams was elected to Wellington Town Council and in 2012 became the town’s first Lady Mayor.

She was elected to Taunton Deane Borough Council in 2007 representing Wellington Rockwell Green and West Ward. Cllr Stock-Williams was Executive Member for Corporate Resources from 2011-15, when she was elected as the borough’s Deputy Mayor.

She returned to her medical roots by becoming the district council’s first Member of the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board when responsibility for Public Health was returned to local government.

Her community commitments include being a governor at Wellington’s almshouses, the Hospital of Sir John Popham and a governor at Wellington School.

She is also the town council’s representative on the Wellington One Team and a member of the inter-generational Archie Project Steering Group, which aspires to make Wellington a Dementia Friendly Town.

Local MP Rebecca Pow said: “Taking on the role of Mayor of Taunton Deane is a serious commitment and important for the whole community. Vivienne Stock-Williams has a superb track record in terms of the roles she has already undertaken for Taunton Deane and Wellington Town Council as well as much experience in her working life in research and health and well-being. I have no doubt that she will make an excellent ambassador for Taunton Deane. I wish her all the very best in her new and exciting role.”

Cllr Stock-Williams succeeds Cllr Marcia Hill as Mayor. The Deputy Mayor for the year is Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey.