In this La Vida Liverpool exclusive, we talk to Wirral Mayor Cherry Povall to learn more about her and her role as Mayor. A trailblazing female Mayor, Cherry is forward-thinking, committed to promoting Wirral and works hard to help people, businesses and good causes. Here’s what she has to say….
LA VIDA: So Cherry, please could you tell us about yourself and your life before becoming Mayor Of Wirral?
MAYOR POVALL: I have had a career where I have worn lots of different hats. I came to Liverpool to Teachers Training College and taught in several schools in Liverpool and Cheshire. My Husband came out of the Army and we bought our first Newsagents shop and I gave up teaching. We went on to own and run five shops and a Post Office. During this time I was appointed as a Magistrate and served 33 years on the Bench.
During this period I also returned to University and obtained an Honours Degree in Law. I worked briefly as a solicitor but life intervened and my husband died. I carried on running the business with my daughter. I became a Councillor and have been one of the Councillors For Clatterbridge Ward for 17years.
LA VIDA: How and why did you become Mayor? Can anyone become Mayor and could even I apply one day?
MAYOR POVALL: Because I have served as a Councillor for 17 years I was elected by the Council to become Mayor. You have to be an elected Councillor in order to become Mayor, so you have some work to do first Justin!
LA VIDA: What is the role of Mayor Of Wirral exactly? What is the job description and what powers do you have?
MAYOR POVALL: The Mayor is considered as the first citizen of the Wirral and Armed Forces Champion, I also carry out the Citizenship Ceremonies once a month welcoming new residents to Wirral and my job is also to represent the people of Wirral at official functions and tell the rest of the world what a great place Wirral is to live and work in. I’m trying also during my year of office to promote Wirral as a tourist destination. My job is also to Chair the Council Meetings and receive any visiting dignitaries.
LA VIDA: What is a typical day like in your role?
MAYOR POVALL: In addition to the above, I am also incredibly busy visiting all kinds of projects, schools nursing homes etc and I have in fact carried 228 engagements since I became Mayor on 15th May 2024. The ability to eat enormous amounts of cake and drink copious amounts of wine also seems to be one of the main qualifications to be Mayor! I have engagements almost every day seven days a week and up to five engagements per day but three generally is the average number.
LA VIDA: What are your main objectives and what would you like to achieve during your term?
MAYOR POVALL: I am very concerned with boosting the Tourist Economy in Wirral so that all our businesses benefit from the fabulous offer we have in Wirral — whether it’s our heritage, our coastline, our parks or our fabulous countryside or golf courses. We have so much to offer that Wirral has become a best kept secret and we need to find a way to tell the rest of the world that we are the place to visit.
LA VIDA: Tell us a bit about your charity initiatives and events
MAYOR POVALL: My chosen Charities this year are IncuBabies and the Blind Sailing School and hopefully lots of the other small charities on Wirral that do not get the recognition they deserve. I am particularly keen to support charities without paid staff run purely by volunteers.
IncuBabies is about our local hospital Neo-Natal Unit helping achieve a complete refurbishment bringing it into the 21st century. The staff do incredible things there saving the lives of tiny pre-term babies and to give them modern facilities will just enhance the work they already do.
The Blind Sailing School is based on the river at the Tranmere Sailing Club. The volunteers do an amazing job giving Visually Impaired people the experience of sailing in the river but also taking them once per year to Windermere and to the Menai Straits. Their charity is helping combat social isolation and providing undreamed of experiences.
LA VIDA: And of course, your best friend and Mayoress Sheila Clarke MBE does great work too doesn’t she?
MAYOR POVALL: Sheila is amazing! In June 2004 she was elected as Councillor for the Bebington ward, which she served for eight years. During her time as a Councillor, she specialised in Children Services, which included Wirral’s Adoption Panel, schools, youth provision, children centres, special education needs, and all aspects of children’s social care.
Sheila is also a longstanding Independent Member of Wirral’s Fostering Panel with over 20 years’ experience and retains a keen interest in education, in particular early years development. She is a trustee of two charities. One of these is IncuBabies, which she co-founded as a result of the care that her daughter and grandson received and is very close to her heart.
She is a member of Bebington Soroptimists and a member of the management committee of her Church Community Centre. In 1992 she was awarded an MBE for Community and Political Service.
LA VIDA: Finally, a message to the people of Wirral?
MAYOR POVALL: I feel that if during my year in office if I have been able to promote Wirral by telling anyone who will listen what a fabulous place we live in, and also been able to promote the value and rewards of volunteering, I will have achieved something. This is everyone’s job too — we live in such a beautiful place, we just need to shout about it and get people to visit, and not just for big events such as the golf.
TO CONTACT MAYOR POVALL EMAIL cherrypovall@wirral.gov.uk
Photos courtesy of Paul Stead and Mayor Povall
