THE new Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan for 2014/15 is Councillor Howard Hamilton, with his wife Carol as Mayoress.

Councillor Fred Johnson was elected as Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Hamilton was born in Cardiff and moved to the Vale of Glamorgan in the early 1960s. He began his working life as a laboratory assistant with Distillers Chemicals at the Barry Site, and then went on to continue his education as a part time student studying polymer chemistry.

His involvement with the Trade Union began with Aberthaw Cement Ltd where he began as a Shop-steward and was elected as Branch Chair a year later.

In the following years his trade union activities increased and he took on a number of major roles, including National Union Delegate with Blue Circle Cement and Delegate to the National Race Equality Committee.

For a number of years he was also a Trade Union Tutor, developing and delivering courses on industrial relations, employment law and health and safety.

In 2008 Howard was elected to Barry Town Council and in 2009 served as Mayor of Barry Town Council.

In 2012 he was elected as councillor for Barry's Illtyd ward.

Over the years Howard and Carol have been involved with various local charities and in 2010 became patrons of Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming Club.

They have chosen to support the Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming Club and Air Ambulance Wales as their charities for the forthcoming year.