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20 May 03Poole's New Mayor and Sheriff
Cllr Ray Smith has been elected as Poole's 755th Mayor at this year's Mayor Making Ceremony. Cllr Les Burden was elected as Sheriff and Cllr Graham Mason, Mayor of Poole for 2002/3, was appointed Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Ray Smith has chosen to support six charity appeals. The charities chosen are Poole Hospital to help purchase Endoscopes and Colonoscopes for cancer prevention and treatment. 'About Face' for the treatment of head and neck cancer, Forest Holme Hospice, Alderney Hospital for Alzheimer treatment, the Women's Refuge Action Group and the Dorset Youth Orchestra.
The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Ray Smith, said; "Today is not about me - it's about the people and the Borough of Poole. Poole has a great history and is continually making history. I am the 755th Mayor and hopefully, I can live up to all those that have preceded me and if not it will not be for the want of trying. Working with the people, and for the people, I look forward to working with all Councillors, officers and staff to promote Poole. One of my main aims is to encourage the young and the not so young to make our Town a beautiful place to live, work and play."
The new Mayor of Poole has announced his two youth escorts, Air Cadets from Poole Air Training Corp (ATC), Tanya Phillips and Sean Manzi, who will accompany the Mayor on all Civic parades.
Cllr Les Burden, Sheriff of Poole, who will be supporting the Mayor in Civic duties and responsibilities, said: "Today I am a very proud Dorset man. To have been elected Sheriff of this wonderful town of Poole where I have lived nearly all of my life. To be appointed Sheriff of Poole to protect my good friends the Mayor and Mayoress. Helping to promote the Borough will give me and my wife Maryrose the greatest pleasure."
Rev Jonathan Martin, Parkstone United Reform Church and Poole Council's Civic Chaplain has been appointed as Mayor's Chaplain for this year. 
Biographies
Cllr Ray Smith is to become the Mayor of Poole for the coming year following his year as Sheriff. Ray and his wife Jean have one son and two adopted daughters.
Ray spent nine years as Chairman of a Chamber of Commerce in Essex before becoming a self employed businessman managing a number of leisure businesses.
He has a keen interest in charity work and as chairman of a church appeal fund and president of two rotary clubs has raised a considerable amount of money for charity. Rotary International commended his charity work when he received a certificate for his outstanding work for children.
Ray has been a Councillor since retiring in 1991 when he was elected to Dorset County Council representing Canford Cliffs Ward. In 1998 Ray was awarded for his outstanding achievement in the Borough of Poole. His main interests are fund-raising for Poole Rotary, he also loves all sports.
Cllr Les Burden is to become the Sheriff of Poole for the coming year, he is married to Mayrose for 32 years. Les was born in Wyke Regis and moved to Poole as a boy in 1941. He attended St Aldhelm's First School and then Poole Grammar School, at the old Seldown site.
After leaving school Les completed an apprenticeship at JJ Allen's in Bournemouth before setting up his own interior furnishing and design shop, which he is still involved with after 50 years.
As a young man he was involved with football and took up the referee's whistle after leaving school. Les went out to referee for Dorset and England for over 40 years and spent his last active years as a referee in the Gulf State of Qatar officiating at international matches and lecturing Arab footballers and referees.
Les has represented the people of Creekmoor, Hillbourne and Waterloo as a Councillor for the Creekmoor ward for the past four years. He is also Chairman of Poole Old Grammarians Association, the Broadstone Horticultural Society and Waterloo Youth Club. Les is a governor of Hillbourne Middle School and is Honorary Treasurer of Hillbourne Community Association.
Deputy Mayor - Cllr Graham Mason
Cllr Graham Mason was Mayor of Poole for 2003 - 2003. Graham and his wife Susan have three daughters, two sons and 11 grandchildren. He was born in 1941 and raised in Hall Green, Birmingham.
For the past 15 years Graham has run his Health Food business in Broadstone and later in Kinson. He has been a Governor of Broadstone First School, the Chairman of Contract Services and is Chairman of Age Concern, Broadstone and the Broadstone Youth Club. His main interests are his family and friends.
Sean Price
Directgov