Jonathan Drean named Lord Mayor Designate

The Lord Mayor Selection Committee has met today and recommended the new Lord Mayor Designate for 2023/2024 as Councillor Jonathan Drean.

The recommendation will be put forward at the next Full Council meeting on Monday 27 March before it is fully agreed.

Councillor Drean is the Cabinet Member for Transport and Joint Chair of Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee, a member of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority and was first elected to represent the Budshead Ward in Plymouth in 2007. He also served as the Deputy Lord Mayor in 2009 to 2010.

Jonathan was born in Portsmouth and moved to Plymouth in 1969. His Father the late Tom Drean MBE was in the Royal Navy, and was also Deputy Lord Mayor during May 1987 to May 1988.

For many years Jonathan worked in the Aviation Industry, started his career in 1978 at the Plymouth Airport, where he worked for Brymon Airways, and was later based at Heathrow Airport for 28 years.

He has worked with local residents and traders in the city on various improvement schemes, and also with many local transport companies to help improve their services within the city, such as:

• rail
• long distance coaches
• continental ferry
• and various arrival gateways into the city.

Jonathan is married to Geraldine, who also works in the travel industry. Their Christian faith is very important to them and they attend and support their local church together.

Jonathan enjoys reading, cooking, watching formula one, films, travelling and going for walks with Geraldine.

As well as the official duties, Jonathan is really looking forward to meeting many local voluntary charities and organisations, faith groups and supporting their fund raising events like flower festivals and the PMAC, a Youth Musical Group for 9 to 18 Year olds, where Jonathan first attended a concert with his father in 1987, and in 2009 when he was Deputy Lord Mayor.

Councillor Drean said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to be the Lord Mayor Designate. I am looking forward to meeting and representing as many citizens, organisations, and charities of Plymouth during the year of office.

“Connecting with the people of Plymouth, the local communities, organisations and civic engagements is something that I am really passionate about and being elected as the Lord Mayor of Plymouth will reflect just this.”

Current Lord Mayor, Councillor Sue Dann said: “I am delighted that Councillors have agreed to support Jonathan as Lord Mayor Designate for 2023/2024. I have worked with Jonathan and I am sure he will undertake the Lord Mayors role with a lot of enthusiasm and I wish him a rewarding and enjoyable year in office. Personally it has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to be Lord Mayor for this city, I have enjoyed every minute of it.”