JOAN Lawrence, mother of the missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, has become Malton’s new Town Mayor.
Coun Lawrence, who was previously deputy mayor, and takes over from Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith, has been a member of the council for the past six years.
After her installation at last week’s Town Council meeting at Ryedale House, Coun Lawrence said she had lived through “a nightmare situation” since Claudia disappeared.
She said later she was confident there would be “massive changes” in the police investigation into the mystery of Claudia’s whereabouts following new contacts being made with her by senior officers recently.
Becoming the Mayor, said Coun Lawrence, would help her rebuild her life and she looked forward to her term of office as Malton’s first citizen.
She paid tribute to Coun Fitzgerald-Smith who had served as Mayor for four years, and who has now been appointed deputy mayor.
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