Councillor Malcolm Smith is Telford & Wrekin civic leader for fifth time

Councillor Malcolm Smith was last night elected as the borough's first citizen for the year 2014/15.

Councillor Smith is one of the ward members for Hadley and Leegomery and has lived in the Telford & Wrekin area all his life.

He was elected by last night's annual council meeting at Oakengates Theatre @ The Place.

He was first elected as chairman of Wrekin Council in 1994 and chairman of Telford & Wrekin Council in 1998. He was elected borough mayor in both 2006 and 2011.

Councillor Smith was born in St George's and moved to Hadley when he married Christine 50 years ago.

They have a son, two grand daughters and two great grand children.

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He became a miner on leaving school at 15 and later worked as a representative for a bearing company.

On reaching the position of executive director, he started his own company selling bearings, V belts and roller chain to local industry.

He later ran a consultancy from home, sourcing development for a Jersey-based organisation.

He has served as a district and then borough councillor for more than 40 years, including holding the post of deputy leader for 13 years and leader for a further seven years.

He has been an active member of the St John's Ambulance for a large part of his life, rising to the position of Area Staff Officer. This has included being awarded the Long Service Medal and the Order of St John.

Councillor Smith said: "I am enormously privileged to have the opportunity to embrace the role of mayor again and I am very much looking forward to the year ahead.

"My job will include promoting the borough's reputation as an efficient and caring body."