Plymouth Lord Mayor

14/10/2026

🇮🇳⚓ A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO INS TRISHUL AND HER SHIP’S COMPANY! ⚓🇬🇧

I would like to extend my absolute and resolute thanks to the incredible crew of the Indian Navy warship INS Trishul for the beautiful reception they hosted on board for so many distinguished figures from across Plymouth.

The whole evening was an absolute delight, and I felt truly honoured to be part of it. I had the pleasure of speaking with many members of the ship’s company, and it was fantastic to hear just how much they had enjoyed exploring our wonderful city.
Having met some of the officers earlier in the week, I was particularly proud to present them with a Plymouth Book of Wonder as a little reminder of our fantastic city.
What made the evening even more special was hearing their stories about their time ashore. From enjoying traditional fish and chips down on the Barbican to visiting the famous Plymouth Gin Distillery, exploring our historic sights, and even learning about Plymouth’s famous cobbles, it was wonderful to hear how much they had embraced everything our city has to offer!

Their enthusiasm, warmth and genuine appreciation for Plymouth were infectious. I thoroughly enjoyed their company, and it was clear that they had made some fantastic memories during their visit.
Plymouth should be incredibly proud to welcome people from all around the world. These visits are about so much more than ships and defence. They strengthen international relationships, build friendships between nations, support our defence sector and bring valuable business to our local economy.

Above all, they allow us to showcase the very best of Plymouth and the people who make our city so special.
The members of INS Trishul and her ship’s company could not have been kinder, more welcoming or more warm-hearted. The generosity, respect and friendship shown throughout their visit have genuinely touched me.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the High Commissioner of India and to Captain Charit Kapil for the kindness, generosity and wonderful gifts presented. The warmth and respect shown by everyone involved have been truly appreciated.

INS Trishul and her entire ship’s company will always be welcome in Plymouth. 🇮🇳❤️🇬🇧

I look forward to maintaining the friendships and close bonds formed, and I hope the crew leave our city knowing just how much they have been appreciated and how warmly they have been welcomed.

Finally, a big thank you to my consort, Cindy Wilcox, and the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Steve Bell, for joining me and sharing such a memorable evening.

To everyone involved, thank you once again. It has been an absolute pleasure, and I am truly grateful for the friendship, hospitality and respect shown to Plymouth.
Long may the friendship between India and Plymouth continue! ⚓🤝

12/10/2026

💙 A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO THE MINDSET PROJECT IN FORD! 💙

I would like to say a massive thank you to Pete and Brydie Bruce and the amazing team at The Mindset Project in Ford for the outstanding work they are doing to support people in our community.

I was delighted to attend alongside Councillor Maria Lawson and see first-hand the fantastic work taking place within this truly special organisation.

The rehabilitation, encouragement and support they provide to so many people is nothing short of outstanding. They are helping people rebuild their confidence, improve their wellbeing and, in many cases, change the direction of their lives.

A gym can be about so much more than lifting weights and getting physically fit. It can be about rebuilding lives, finding purpose, developing friendships and giving people the strength and confidence to move forward.

The Mindset Project is a brilliant example of what a community gym should be. It is an organisation that understands people, recognises their potential and provides the support they need to take positive steps in their lives.

A special thank you goes to Pete and Brydie. Your commitment to helping others is truly inspiring, and the difference you are making to people's lives deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

Plymouth needs to get behind organisations like this. We should be supporting, encouraging and championing the community groups that are doing such incredible work on the ground, often making a difference where people need it most.

I am incredibly proud that Plymouth has such caring, compassionate community champions and organisations that put people first.

Pete, Brydie and everyone involved at The Mindset Project — thank you for everything you do.
You are a credit to Plymouth. 👏❤️

We know that the sessions we deliver and the work we do has a significant impact on the lives of those who join us and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to share some of this with The Lord Mayor of Plymouth and the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board when they visited us last week.

The Lord Mayor and Councillor Maria Lawson joined us on Friday, where they had the opportunity to see our Wellbeing Gym Boxing Session in action, as well as to meet and hear the stories of some of our members.

We had the chance to tell them about the difference the sessions make in the lives of those who join us and they could see for themselves too.

They were able to watch, as individuals, who have survived a stroke and/or life-changing illness, were able to find ways to train and exercise, which focuses on strength, balance, co-ordination, memory and confidence.

They listened to stories on how the gym is a sanctuary for those who are dealing with caring responsibilities and life-changing experiences, and they heard the laughter and saw the camaraderie between people who at one time were completely strangers to one another but who have now formed close friendships, both in and out of the gym.

We discussed the other areas of our work – women’s only sessions, men’s only sessions, postnatal, young people – all of them focused on prevention and helping individuals to become the strongest, fittest and healthiest versions of themselves, physically and mentally.

A huge thank you to The Lord Mayor and Cllr Lawson for their time and this opportunity. We hope the work we do can contribute to and help inform some of the really important work happening across the City, so more lives can be positively changed.



Plymouth Lord Mayor
Cllr Maria Lawson for Plymstock Dunstone
Wolseley Trust
Plymouth City Council
Livewell Southwest
Plym Neuro Rehab Unit
Bruce Fitness and Wellbeing
Strong with Brydie
Reset FC men’s physical and mental wellness

08/10/2026

Honoured to Welcome the Indian Navy
🇮🇳⚓🇬🇧

It was a real honour for myself and Lord Mayor's Chaplin Steve Bell to meet and show around Captain Charit Kapil, Commanding Officer of the Indian Navy warship INS Trishul, during their visit to Plymouth.
I was also delighted to welcome Commodore Muralidhar B. Dongre, the Defence Advisor for India.
Alongwith our own Lt Cdr Mike Norris from HMS Drake and Chaplin Bhanu Attri.

It is fantastic to see ships and personnel from other navies visiting our great city, and even more special to see the passion, enthusiasm and genuine love they have for Plymouth and its long-standing maritime and naval heritage.
As a city with such deep connections to the Royal Navy and the sea, it is always a privilege to welcome our international naval friends and strengthen those friendships.

It was an absolute honour to have Captain Kapil and Commodore Dongre at the Lord Mayor’s Chambers, to host them and show them around.

Welcome to Plymouth — it was a pleasure to have you with us and I hope you and all crew enjoy your stay ⚓🇮🇳🇬🇧

07/10/2026

🏛️ A Wonderful Visit from Rotary Club of Plymouth 🤝

On Wednesday 30th September 2026, I had the pleasure, as Lord Mayor of Plymouth, of welcoming seven guests from the Rotary Club of Plymouth into the Lord Mayor’s Parlour for a special visit and tour of the Council House.

It was a real pleasure to spend time with members of the club, hear more about the fantastic work they do within our community, and share some of the history and traditions of the Lord Mayor’s role and our city.

The Rotary Club of Plymouth does so much valuable work supporting local communities, charities, good causes and individuals, both here in Plymouth and further afield. Their commitment to volunteering and helping others is something that deserves recognition and appreciation. ❤️

Organisations such as Rotary are a fantastic example of how people coming together, giving their time and using their skills can make a genuine difference to the lives of others.

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome you all to the Lord Mayor’s Parlour. Thank you for taking the time to visit, and more importantly, thank you for everything you do for our city and its communities. 👏

⚓️ Plymouth is at its best when we work together.

05/10/2026

🏆✨ THE LORD MAYOR’S RECOGNITION AWARDS ARE COMING BACK! ✨🏆

I’m absolutely over the moon to announce that the Lord Mayor’s Recognition Awards will be returning! 🎉

These awards are something very close to my heart because they are about recognising the people who often go above and beyond for our city and our communities — sometimes without ever asking for recognition.

Next month, I’ll be announcing the date for this year’s Lord Mayor’s Recognition Awards, when I’ll have the great honour of personally handing out the awards. 🏆👏

The recipients will be personally selected by me, in recognition of individuals who I believe have gone that extra mile, made a real difference, supported others, volunteered, inspired people or simply done something extraordinary for the people of Plymouth.

There are so many incredible people across our city who deserve to be celebrated, and I can’t wait to shine a light on some of them. ❤️

So keep your eyes peeled… 👀

The Lord Mayor’s Recognition Awards are coming back — and I’m absolutely delighted! 🎉🏆

05/10/2026

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting one of the Alcoholics Anonymous groups here in Plymouth.

I have to say, I was absolutely blown away.
I went along with some preconceived ideas about what I might find, and I couldn't have been more wrong. (YES, some politicians admit being wrong)
There was no cold, clinical atmosphere or people simply sitting around a circle feeling sorry for themselves. What I found was something completely different.

I found positive energy, friendship, warmth, openness and an incredible sense of collective responsibility.
The people I spoke to had some incredibly powerful stories. Many had experienced hardship, struggles and some very difficult times in their lives. But what struck me most was how they had taken those experiences and, together, turned them into something positive. ❤️

The friendships that have formed within the group were genuinely inspiring. People look out for one another, support one another and have built friendships and social networks that extend well beyond the meetings themselves.

There was a real sense of community and belonging — a group of people who understand each other's struggles and are determined to help each other move forward.

As Lord Mayor, I feel incredibly privileged to meet people from all walks of life, but I genuinely left this visit feeling inspired by what I had seen.
So, if you are struggling with alcohol, or you're worried about your drinking and you're thinking about stopping, please don't be afraid to reach out.
💥You don't have to face it alone.💥

My visit showed me that there are some truly fantastic, caring and supportive people who are ready to welcome you without judgement.

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with me and share their experiences. I have enormous respect for what you are achieving together.
Sometimes, the biggest step is simply asking for help.
And there is absolutely no shame in taking that step. ❤️

05/10/2026

🌟 It was an absolute honour to attend the St Luke’s Guiding Lights auction recently and to see an incredible £200,000 raised for such a vital cause.

I was also incredibly proud to play even the smallest part in helping contribute towards this amazing total, which will help provide the equivalent of hospice care at home for more than 200 local families facing some of the toughest and most difficult times imaginable.

St Luke’s do truly amazing work for the people of Plymouth and the surrounding communities. Hospice care is something that touches so many families, and the difference this money will make cannot be underestimated.

What made the evening so special was seeing so many fantastic businesses and individuals putting their hands in their pockets and bidding for some of the incredible artwork created for Guiding Lights. Behind every piece was an artist who had given hours and hours of their time and creativity to support this fantastic cause.

A huge congratulations to Penny Hannah for her tremendous hard work and contribution, alongside the entire Guiding Lights and St Luke's Hospice Plymouth, the fantastic artists, volunteers, businesses and everyone else who played their part over the past ten weeks.

From walking the trail and downloading the app, to sponsoring a lighthouse, volunteering, attending events or placing a bid at last night's auction — every single contribution mattered.

I was proud to be there as Lord Mayor, honestly,
£200,000 is an incredible achievement, and it is a testament to what can happen when the people of Plymouth come together.

Thank you to everyone involved.
You are what makes Plymouth proud. 💙

02/10/2026

Plymouth Santa Fun Run
🎅🎅🎅 I’ll be taking part in this for the very first time myself! 🎅🎅🎅

Given my many knee surgeries following injuries from my military service, I’ll be taking things at a slightly slower pace and will probably be bringing up the rear! 😂

So, if anyone else would like to take a more leisurely approach, you’re very welcome to join me at the back. We can walk, have a laugh, enjoy the atmosphere and, most importantly, raise money for some fantastic charities. ❤️

It’s a great Plymouth event, supporting some brilliant causes, so please do consider taking part and getting involved.
Let’s get those Santa suits on and make it a fantastic day! 🎅🎄❤️

See you at the back! 😂

02/10/2026

Nigeria Independence Day 🇳🇬
🇳🇬 HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, NIGERIA! 🇳🇬

Yesterday was a very special day here in Plymouth as we joined the Nigerian community to celebrate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

It was wonderful to see the Nigerian flag proudly raised in Plymouth, bringing together members of the Nigerian community, friends, families, councillors and supporters to celebrate Nigerian culture, heritage, identity and the many positive contributions Nigerians make to our city and our country. 🇳🇬🤝🇬🇧

A huge thank you to our amazing Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Angela Penrose, and the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain, Steve Bell, for taking the reins and doing the honours by raising the Nigerian flag in Plymouth yesterday to mark this important occasion.

Yesterday was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all of that and to recognise the wonderful Nigerian community that contributes so much to life here in Plymouth.

Sadly, I couldnt make the flag raising yesterday, but I pass my respects with my Iri-J'i picture located in my office.
Thank you to everyone who did attend, supported and helped make yesterday such a memorable occasion.
From Plymouth to Nigeria and Nigerians around the world:

🇳🇬 HAPPY 66TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY! 🇳🇬
Our heritage. Our culture. Our people. Our pride. 💚🤍💚