Councillor Craig Collingswood has been officially appointed Wolverhampton's 166th Mayor.
He took over the chains of office from outgoing Mayor Councillor Linda Leach at the inauguration, which took place during last night’s Annual Council Meeting. His daughter Abby, a cardiothoracic nurse at New Cross Hospital’s Heart and Lung Centre, is Mayoress.
Councillor Paul Singh was appointed Deputy Mayor for 2025 to 2026, with his wife Ranjit Dhillon becoming the new Deputy Mayoress.
Councillor Collingswood, who has served the Park Ward since 2012 and was Deputy Mayor for the 2024 to 2025 municipal year, said: "I am immensely proud and deeply grateful to become the First Citizen of our great city.
"As a born and bred Wulfrunian, it is an incredible honour and I pledge to dedicate my time, energy and commitment to serving this amazing place to the best of my ability.
"Wolverhampton has a rich and proud history. It has witnessed remarkable changes and transformations and has long been a place where innovation and industry have thrived – and today it continues to be a city which embraces diversity, progress and opportunity.
"Our city’s motto, out of darkness cometh light, serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. It reminds us that, even in the face of adversity, we have the power to advance, innovate and shine brightly, and this resonates today more than ever as we continue to work together to bring light to every corner of our city.
"My theme for the year is 'City and Wulfrunians ascend together'. This symbolises the collective ambition towards growth and progress. It represents the city's regeneration, whether through urban development or cultural revival, and highlights the resilience and aspiration of our residents.
“This ascension points towards collaboration, a shared sense of pride, community and empowerment as Wulfrunians rise together to shape the city's destiny on a local, national and even global stage.”
He added: "Abby will be a wonderful Mayoress and, together, we promise to act with integrity and put the interests of our city and Wulfrunians first and foremost. Let us work together to make Wolverhampton an even better place for future generations, guided by the light that our motto so brilliantly embodies."
Councillor Collingswood has chosen 4 charities to support during his Mayoral year. These include:
- SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, a military charity which provides lifelong support to veterans, serving personnel and their families
- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, which is committed to supporting the Trust's work by raising essential funds to improve patient care and healthcare services across the city
- Compton Care, which provides specialist palliative care to adults with life limiting illnesses
- Acorns Children's Hospice, which provides specialist care for children and young people with life threatening conditions, along with support for their families
This year’s inauguration was sponsored by 2 local firms, Burke Brothers and Gills Mix Concrete, and Councillor Collingswood added: “I would like to thank Burke Brothers and Gills Mix Concrete for their generosity."
Councillor Collingswood, who attended Manor Primary and Parkfields Secondary schools, worked in occupational health in local government for many years before becoming a lecturer. His father was a Bilston councillor for 17 years and, following in his footsteps, Councillor Collingswood has served as the council’s Cabinet Member for Resident Services and the Environment and as chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Councillor Collingswood is also Chair of the Wolverhampton Armed Forces Covenant Board – his son, Jack, is a Trooper serving with the British Army in The Queen’s Royal Hussars regiment and is currently in Germany.
For more information please visit The Mayor of Wolverhampton. The website includes details of how to invite the Mayor to events.
