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Get to know High Peak's new Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Mayor and Mayoress Paul and Mary Hardy, and Deputy Mayor Ollie Cross.

High Peak has a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2021/22, with Councillor Paul Hardy elected as Mayor and Councillor Ollie Cross as Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Hardy, a life-long Glossop resident, will be joined in his term of office by his wife Mary as Mayoress. The couple served as Deputy Mayor and Mayoress last year.

They have two sons and a grandson, who also all live in Glossop, and very strong links to the town.

Councillor Hardy was a parent governor at St Mary’s School where both his sons were educated. He ran the school and church football teams and was one of the founding members of Glossop Juniors Football Club in the 1980s. He currently runs a successful leaflet distribution company with his son.

Both he and Mary are members of two walking groups and enjoy getting out in the Peak District countryside several times a week.


Councillor Paul Hardy 

Councillor Hardy said: “It is an honour to be asked to serve the High Peak as Mayor and I and Mary, the Mayoress, are very much looking forward to supporting the fantastic work that happens in communities across the Borough in the coming year.

“We are acutely aware of the impact Covid has had on everyone and, as restrictions continue to gradually ease, we hope to be able to meet as many of you as possible and to shine a light on the fantastic spirit and team work that has seen us through the pandemic so far and will set us on the right path to recovery.

“As life-long residents we know what a truly special place this is and that’s what we will be celebrating as well as supporting causes close to our hearts, including Glossop Mountain Rescue, Partington Theatre Club and the Thomas Theyer Foundation, through the Mayor’s charity.”

Incoming Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ollie Cross, who represents Padfield, lives in Hadfield with his partner Gillian Cox, her two sons and their dog.

He and Gill are part of the team at Carmel Church making packed lunches for local schoolchildren in Hadfield, Padfield and Tintwistle (pictured below).

Councillor Cross is also a governor at Padfield Community Primary School and Secretary of Hadfield Coming Together, the local community group that runs the Bellies Not Bins foodbank, where he and Gill both help out.

He said: “I am truly humbled to have been appointed Deputy Mayor of High Peak. I’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and well wishes of my local residents sent either via email, phone call, social media, when folk have bumped into me whilst I’ve been out & about litter picking or at Bellies Not Bins last Thursday.

"I really am the luckiest local councillor in the world. I’m incredibly grateful for the support and kind words of my High Peak Borough Council colleagues and folk of all political stripes too." 


Ollie and Gill 

Councillor Cross went on: "I want to place on record my immense gratitude to the departing Mayor of High Peak, Councillor Ed Kelly, for all his hard work, dedication and selflessness over the past couple of years during difficult circumstances. Ed has been a wonderful servant to the High Peak and is a total credit to our Borough.

"I also want to wish the new Mayor of High Peak, Councillor Paul Hardy, the very best of luck and every success in the role. I will support Councillor Hardy in whatever way I can and to the very best of my ability going forward. I have no doubt that he will be an excellent Mayor.

"Like with everything I do, I shall put my heart & soul into being Deputy Mayor, and serve the High Peak to the very of my ability. Thank to you my partner Gillian Cox who has kindly agreed to be my Deputy Mayoress despite her busy schedule and on top of everything else she does for our local community.

"Even with my new duties, my commitment to Padfield Ward is unwavering. I will still continue to find the time to conduct my twice weekly litter picks and muck in at Bellies Not Bins every Thursday. Rest assured, I'll always be there to listen to my local residents and be actively involved in our local community!”

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