New Penzance Mayor Pledges 24/7 Commitment to Whole Parish

Penzance has a new mayor, and he wants you to know his focus stretches well beyond the town itself.

Councillor Andy Law was unanimously voted in as Mayor of Penzance at the 46th Annual Mayor Choosing Ceremony, held at the Ritz Penzance on Monday 18th May. He takes over from Stephen Reynolds, one of Penzance’s longest-serving mayors, who stood down after three years in the role.

Andy, who lives in Newlyn, was elected as a councillor for the Penzance East ward in 2024.

A career working with trauma and abuse

Andy recently retired from his full-time career, which saw him specialise in working with people experiencing mental ill-health and trauma. He also worked with male perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Familiar face on the Cornish folk scene

Outside of work, Andy has become a familiar face on the Cornish folk music scene. He has played with the Golowan Band, the Penzance Guizers and in his own bands, performing traditional Cornish tunes.

Along with friends, he recorded a charity CD of folk tunes that raised over £15,000 for the Aurora Foundation for People Abused in Childhood. His music has also raised funds for refugees, West Cornwall Children’s Hospice and the RNLI.

“Laser-focused on community”

In his first remarks as Mayor, Andy made clear that his attention will not sit solely on Penzance itself.

“I love living in this place. Despite what many people might think, there is great diversity here, diversity of thought, opinion, experience, and yet it feels inclusive and welcoming,” he said.

“Newlyn, Mousehole, Paul, Heamoor, Gulval, combine with Penzance to form an exciting, varied Parish, and my focus as Mayor will be first and foremost to focus on the whole Parish, not just Penzance.

“I want to celebrate the differences to be found in Newlyn, Mousehole, Paul, Heamoor, Gulval and Penzance. But whilst recognising and welcoming those differences, I want to embrace them as part of the whole, to ensure that positive developments and innovations in one part of the Parish can be rolled out across the whole Parish.

“As Mayor, I will be laser-focused on community. I believe passionately, that developing positive, cohesive and supportive local communities is the heartbeat of the Parish. If we have strong communities, we can ensure that compassion, kindness and respect are at the heart of our daily lives and where conflict and disagreement arise, we can reach out across the divide and find what we have in common, rather than what divides us.”

Deputy Mayor and Civic Deputies appointed

Councillor Penny Osborne was unanimously appointed as Deputy Mayor at the ceremony. Councillors Phillip Jameson and Bonnie Jackson were voted in as this year’s Civic Deputies.

It was also officially announced, with “great sadness”, that Phil Northcott was stepping down as Town Crier. He was thanked, to much applause, for his years of service.

Andy added: “It is an extraordinary honour to serve the people of this Parish and I will give absolutely nothing less than 100% commitment and dedication to this task 24/7, to repay the trust and faith that has been invested in me.

“Meur Ras!”