Islington’s new mayor will wear his robes for the first time next week.

Cllr Barry Edwards, who represents Holloway ward, will be sworn in at the annual meeting of Islington Council on May 16. The 65-year-old has been on the council since 2006 and served as deputy mayor last year.

Cllr Edwards has lived in Islington for most of his life, going to Pooles Park Primary School, in Lennox Road, Finsbury Park and Pakeman Primary School, in Hornsey Road, Holloway. He is a former employee of Islington Council.

Cllr Edwards is a keen runner, having completed four London Marathons, and is chairman of the Friends of Paradise Park.

His charities for the year will be Islington Giving and Freightliners Farm.

He said: “I’ll be supporting a fairer Islington for all residents and championing the borough.”

I am honoured to have been nominated by my fellow councillors and am looking forward to being the borough’s first citizen.

“During my Mayoralty, I’ll be supporting a fairer Islington for all residents and championing the borough, its strengths and diversity.”

He succeeds Cllr Jilani Chowdhury, Islington’s first ever Bangladeshi Mayor and Cllr Theresa Debono will be his deputy.