COUNCILLOR ROY Walters, former Lord Mayor of Manchester, exited office last month, having successfully completed his one-year term as first citizen of the United Kingdom (UK) city.
Manchester's second Black mayor, after Sierra Leone-born Yomi Mambu in 1989, Councillor Walters relished the time he spent in office and was glad to be given the opportunity to serve his constituents at a very high level.
"The year in office was very interesting. It was wonderful and a privilege to be Lord Mayor of the city of Manchester. My wife supported me tremendously," he told JIS News in an interview.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
One of the highlights of his career was the city's successful hosting of the XVII Common-wealth Games last year. Many still speak of his quiet dignity, while braving heavy rains to preside over the closing ceremony of what has been described as one of the most successful stagings of the quadrennial sporting spectacle.
"The Commonwealth Games were a highlight and it came in the year of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. I also had a wonderful time officiating at several civic functions and meeting various heads of state of the Common-wealth," he said.
INTEREST IN POLITICS
Born and educated in the parish of Clarendon, Councillor Walters settled in Moss Side, Manchester, in 1958. Some 5,000 Jamaicans reside in the city. He became Councillor for Moss Side in 1998 and serves as Deputy Executive Member for Culture and Leisure on the Council.
He has long had an interest in politics. "I wanted to try to influence decision-making to better the lives of people. I also wanted to give something back to my community," he said.
A former bus conductor and depot operations manager for what was then Manchester Corporation Transport, Councillor Walters was awarded a BEM in 1983 for services to transport. He is a magistrate, a deanery synod member for Hulme Deanery and a life-member of the Unison trade union.
He is a Member of Court at Manchester University and a former non-executive director of Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust, as well as being a governor of Bishop Bilsborrow School in Moss Side.
His political involvement also spanned this period and he worked to get other councillors and Members of Parliament elected.
In Jamaica, Councillor Walters served as an active member of the West Indian Sports and Community Club.
His term as councillor, representing the Moss Side Ward, comes to an end next year; however, he has no intention of leaving public office as he plans to run for re-election.
