THREE-QUARTERS of a century after York had its first female Lord Mayor, the city will go one step further with an all-female civic party.

Edna Annie Crichton was the first women to become Lord Mayor of York when she took on the role in 1941.

Next year’s Lord Mayor, the Labour councillor for Heworth Barbara Boyce, has announced she will spend her year in office with an all-female civic party - made up of Lady Mayoress Val Clark, Sheriff of York Gill Brian, and Sheriff’s Consort, Anne Bush.

Cllr Boyce, who will be formally installed as Lord Mayor in May, was nominated at a full meeting of the council last week.

She praised her civic party’s record of public service in York.

Cllr Boyce said: “Val has worked in the NHS since 1977 caring for elderly patients at the district hospital and prior to that the city hospital.

“My Sheriff will be Gill Brian. Anybody who’s been a pupil at Huntington School - or a child or grandchild - will know Gill as she has taught there for 30 years.

“She’s also a Samaritan and a supporter of Fairtrade in York.

“Ann Bush came to York 40 years ago, and has spent many years working at that university and York College.”

She added: “I am extremely proud of my civic party, who all have a long history of service to our city and are looking forward to getting to know even more of the people and places that we serve.”

Cllr Boyce also spoke of her own pleasure at taking on the role, as a York resident, born and raised.

She added: “In the year 1895 an unmarried domestic servant from Clarence Street in York, called Emma, gave birth in York Union workhouse on Huntington Road.

“Her child was given to a local family to bring up. When she grew up she went to work in Rowntree’s factory and eventually became my grandmother.

“So for me, being aware of my very unprivileged origins, and my own good fortune of being the first in my family to have the chance of higher education, I am particularly honoured at becoming the first citizen of my wonderful city for the forthcoming year.”

Although in 2001 York had a female Lord Mayor Irene Waudby and a female Sheriff Janet Greenwood, both women had their husbands serve alongside them as consorts.