Romsey'S new mayor has promised to promote the town and champion volunteers.

Shortly after taking office on Tuesday evening, schoolteacher Jill Gethin announced she wanted to promote Romsey as a "market" town.

"I feel it is vital Romsey retains its identity," said the town's first citizen, adding she was "privileged and honoured" to become mayor. Miss Gethin reminded everyone that in two years' time it would be the 400th anniversary of Romsey being granted a Royal charter allowing it to have borough status and a mayor.

Miss Gethin, who has represented the town's Tadburn ward since 2003, said another of her aims was to make sure voluntary organisations had all the help they could get during her mayoral year which is also Year of the Volunteer.

"During my year I want to raise volunteer awareness. Many volunteers are of a mature age and I would like more young people to become involved." Turning to her charities, Miss Gethin - the head of girls' sports and an English teacher at a Catholic preparatory school near Andover - said Jane Scarth House and the planned new Dr Peter (Johnson) Centre would benefit.

"The Dr Peter centre will be an asset to the community and the Scouts," said the mayor who added she would continue with the retiring mayor Dorothy Baverstock's charity community chest which has raised over £1,000 for special causes. The mayor's sister, Sally Williams, is her escort.

Councillor Cheryl Collier nominated Jill for the mayoral post. Mrs Collier said the new mayor was a keen sportswoman and certainly had the energy to take on the job.

"Jill is a very capable person and makes valuable points clearly and precisely," said Mrs Collier adding the Midlands-born mayor would also be a good ambassador for Romsey. John Ray seconded the new mayor's nomination.

Mrs Baverstock and the town clerk Sandi Hale-Smith helped invest the new mayor with her chain and badge of office.

Former mayor, Mike Richardson was appointed deputy mayor and was invested by the new mayor and town council leader.

Putting Mr Richardson's name forward Sally Lamb said he was a "great asset" to the council and a man who fights for young people's facilities. And seconding the proposal, Max Buckmaster said with Miss Gethin as mayor and Mr Richardson as her deputy Romsey had a "fairytale combination" for it mayoralty.

He said it wasn't a case of beauty and the beast but two well experienced people.

Glowing tributes were paid to Mrs Baverstock's work during her mayoralty.

Alan Marsh said that despite the death of her husband, Alan, Mrs Baverstock had continued to represent the town with the help of Mr Baverstock's nephew, who stepped into the role of the mayor's escort.

"Alan was extremely proud when his wife became mayor. He was essentially a private person who supported Dorothy and he was a kind and caring person. Alan will be missed," said Mr Marsh.

Mr Richardson said Mrs Baverstock had taken the mayoralty to places never touched before. "Dorothy raised a substantial sum for charities and had been very active indeed," said Mr Richardson.

Mrs Baverstock reminded people of the three Ps she set out to achieve when she became mayor a year ago. One was for people, another for partnership and the final P was for promotion.

The former mayor told how she's tried to promote the office of mayor. Mrs Baverstock said when she asked a girl what she thought the word mayor meant, the response was a female horse.