In pictures: Traditional parade through town centre as new Mayor of Chesterfield begins term

The annual civic procession left the Town Hall and weaved through the town centre to the Church of St Mary and All Saints (Crooked Spire) for a service, on Saturday.

Councillor Shirley Niblock said: "It's an honour to take on this role and I'm looking forward to meeting members of the community at events across the year. Throughout my year I will be raising funds for two fantastic charities that I have chosen to support through the Mayor's appeal."

The Mayor’s Appeal is raising funds for Arthritis UK and Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity, to help raise funds for the Macmillan Ward at the hospital.

Dignitaries from across Derbyshire were in attendance at the parade, along with Aldermen and former Mayors of Chesterfield, and groups such as the Royal British Legion and uniformed youth organisations.

Cllr Niblock was born in Ashbourne but lived in Quarndon as her father Charles Brown was the “Village Bobby” there. In 1960 he was transferred to Chesterfield and with mother Patricia and brother Tim, Shirley lived in a Police House on Foljambe Avenue, Walton.

She attended William Rhodes Junior School and then Manor Secondary School where she was the Head Girl. In 1974 she started at Whitwell Infant School where she stayed for 10 years before being transferred to Hady Primary School where she worked for 25 years becoming Deputy Head and, on several occasions, Acting Head.

In 1978, Shirley and her friend Clare formed Holywell Cross (Women’s) Morris, and they danced for several years either at events in Chesterfield or at pubs and well dressings in Derbyshire.