Grantham has a new Mayor.

Coun Dean Ward formally took over the role at a ceremony in the council chamber at South Kesteven District council last night.

Whilst many mayor-making ceremonies this year, such as in Stamford, have been held virtually, this one actually happened face-to-face.

Mayor Ward says the event took place under the latest government regulations, where a maximum of only 30 people were allowed to be present.

Sadly, however, the pandemic prevented a social function to mark the event was not allowed to take place in the ballroom afterwards, as is traditional.

"Everything was well organised, following government guidelines, people were well spaced out. Under the circumstances it went well."

"There was talk of just handing the chains with six of us over in the Mayor's Parlour."

Mayor Ward thinks the mayor-making ceremony may be the first time the council chamber has been used for a major event in recent months due to the pandemic.

However some council staff and others used the venue for a 'virtual' council meeting yesterday.

He told Nub News: "It had a good clean before and it had a good clean afterwards."

Mayor Ward says he is "really pleased" to finally be receiving the chains office.

He was due to take over from predecessor Adam Stokes in May, but the pandemic and related lockdown pushed Coun Stokes' term of office out until September, giving him 18 months in the role.

Mayor Ward will serve 20 months, until May 2022, when according to tradition, he will be replaced by newly-chosen deputy mayor Coun Graham Jeal.

The new mayor's charities will reflect his services with the RAF Regiment, something which also led him to be armed forces champion with South Kesteven District Council.

They are the Royal RAF Heritage Centre, SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Aircorce Association) and Father Stuart of St Wulfram's Grantham Homeless Charity.

However, with the pandemic and the growing prospect lockdown restrictions may tighten, Mayor Ward says he does not know when fundraising will start, though he is keen to get cracking.

"As soon as permission is granted we will be starting these functions again."

Dean has lived in Grantham for 25 years and has been a Conservative district councillor for the Grantham Arnoldfield Ward since 2015.

He is married to Sandra, who is Grantham born-and-bred, and prefers to be called Flo. They have one grown up son currently serving in the RAF.

But with no festivities allowed in the ballroom, how did Dean celebrate afterwards?

"By having a Chinese take-away with our son and other family members!"

Grantham councillor Ray Wootten, one of the Grantham Charter Trustees, who helps select Grantham's Mayor, told Nub News: "It was a pleasure to propose Coun Dean Ward as Mayor of Grantham for the forthcoming year.

"Dean has served as a ward Councillor for Arnoldfield for the past 5 years prior to this he has served in the RAF Regiment and is proud to represent the Armed Forces on the District.

"In preparing for this role he lost 25lbs in weight and has agreed that he will follow the tradition in High Wycombe where if he puts on weight at the taxpayers expense he will pay a fine to the RAF Benevolent Fund."