The new Mayor of Kirklees Clr Nigel Patrick has chosen Holme Valley Mountain Rescue as his charity for the year.

Clr Patrick, who served as deputy mayor for two years, will step up to the district’s ceremonial first citizen role on May 19. His wife Judith will be mayoress.

Clr Patrick, a Conservative who has represented Holme Valley South on Kirklees Council since 2002, had been due to take over as mayor from Clr Mumtaz Hussain last year but it was decided to leave the mayoral team unchanged due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also a Holme Valley parish councillor, Clr Patrick said: “Myself and Judith are both looking forward to meeting up with people and visiting communities across Kirklees again after what has been a difficult year for everyone.

“Hope and optimism has come with the vaccination programme and the once empty civic diary was starting to fill with engagements. The aim is to fill the diary and have a very busy year.”

New Mayor of Kirklees Clr Nigel Patrick and his wife Judith, who will become mayoress.

Clr Patrick has chosen to support Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Service during his term as mayor.

The charity is a voluntary search and rescue organisation covering the southern half of West Yorkshire. The volunteers are often called to assist incidents attended by West Yorkshire Police and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The deputy mayor for 2021-22 will be Clr Mahmood Akhtar, a long-serving Labour councillor for Batley East.

Outgoing mayor Clr Hussain said: “It has been an honour to serve as Mayor of Kirklees for the past two years. The mayoress and I have thoroughly enjoyed our experience as part of the Civic team.

Holme Valley Mountain Rescue in action. Pictures from HVMR on Facebook

“We have met so many inspirational people across the borough and witnessed communities come together through difficult times. It has been a pleasure to be part of the team and I wish the incoming mayor and mayoress every happiness in their new roles.”

Holme Valley Mountain Rescue can be found on Facebook and Clr Patrick would like to thank all the sponsors and all the people who have already donated to his charity.