New Mayor for Rhyl

COMMUNITY cohesion and championing positive change are the key priorities for Rhyl’s new mayor.

Cllr Joan Butterfield, a town councillor for more than 40 years, has been elected as mayor and pledged to use her year in office to support the work of organisations in Rhyl and to restore pride in the town.

Given an MBE in 2011 for her community work, Cllr Butterfield said that same ethos had steered her through many years as a councillor.

Cllr Butterfield, who represents the town’s Foryd Ward, said she was looking forward to taking up the mantle of mayor for a third time.

“I consider being mayor of Rhyl an honour, and it is no less important this time around. I have always maintained that the strength of our town lies with the people who live and work here; community spirit and partnership working are key, even more so in these challenging times.

“The council has been working collectively to update its priorities for the next few years, and my own focus over the next 12 months is very much in line with them. The theme I will carry with me through this year is cohesion, and I will be supporting communities and organisations who come together for the common good, to make our town resilient and to support the people who live and work within it.”

Cllr Butterfield, who is also a Denbighshire County Councillor representing West Rhyl, said she had seen many changes over the years, and the town faced new challenges, but pulling together was the way forward.

“Rhyl has seen a huge amount of investment in recent years, with more in the pipeline, and we are all too aware that there is a lot to be done. Change takes time; it is also important that we take people with us through those changes and restore a sense of pride to the town. Our town is blessed with many things, but we acknowledge that there is more to be done. We can listen, share the hopes of Rhyl people, use our voices to amplify their wishes and support the organisations working so hard in the town.”

Cllr Butterfield’s consort for the year will be Mr David Turner, and one of their first events will be a fundraiser for Rhyl Sea Cadets – one of the new mayor’s charities for the year.

The event will be held at St Thomas’s Church, Rhyl, on Saturday, June 6, 7.30pm, and will feature a performance from the renowned Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir. Tickets cost £10 each and are available by contacting Jacquie.Mcalpine@tsrhyl.org / 07549 165779. The other charities being championed by Cllr Butterfield are Dementia Friendly Rhyl and 1st Rhyl Scout Group.

*The deputy mayor for 2026/2027 is Cllr Will Price, who represents Trellewelyn Ward.

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