SHE has been rehearsing for the role for several years but now Gosport councillor Iris Binfield has taken on the title of mayor in her own right.

Having accompanied councillor Aleck Hayward as his deputy mayoress, then mayoress in 1999 to 2001 she also carried out the duties on behalf of the late mayor Geoff Bartlett who passed away last year, six weeks after he was elected.

Now Cllr Binfield is looking forward to her own challenge as Gosport mayor and is planning a range of fundraisers for her nominated charities after she was officially made Mayor of Gosport at the Thorngate Halls ceremony yesterday.

Cllr Binfield came into politics in 1996 after the sudden death of her husband Leo, who was himself a Labour councillor in Gosport.

She said: "Everybody liked and respected Leo. We were all so shocked at his sudden death and I really didn't think much about who would take his place on the council.

"But as the weeks wore on I thought that it would be silly to let all the work he had done in the community go to waste. It was then I made the decision to stand for his vacant seat myself."

The yearly Citizens of Honour Awards were also presented to worthy winners. The award went to Laura Beal, a teacher who has also devoted her time to the Guiding movement, the church and also finds time to volunteer at Marwell Zoo.

The young citizen of the year title was scooped by two winners including Matthew McLaren who at 17 is already making his mark in the political arena and is dedicated to getting the voice of young people heard.

The other winner was 14-year-old Jemma Brown who despite being partially sighted and other health problems still lives life to the full and even finds time to fundraise for charity.