News / Lord Mayor of Bristol
Lib Dem councillor to become next lord mayor of Bristol
Liberal Democrat Andrew Varney will replace Paul Goggin as the next lord mayor of Bristol.
Varney has been a Lib Dem councillor for Brislington West since 2021, and previously served as deputy lord mayor of Bristol from 2021 to 2022.
The lord mayor carries out around 800 engagements a year, from major civic events such as the annual Remembrance Sunday parade and service to meeting, supporting and connecting local communities and organisations.
is needed now More than ever
The current lord mayor, Paul Goggin, who is a Labour councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood, was elected to the role last year, and recently took some time away from civic life due to a serious illness.
Andrew will take up the position of lord mayor following the local elections in May.
Born and brought up in Weston-super-Mare, Andrew’s father, David, was originally from Bristol and his mother, Valerie, was from Bath.
After graduating from university in Plymouth and Oxford, he spent a number of years teaching overseas in Hong Kong, Japan, and Ireland.
In 2008, he returned to the West Country settling first in Knowle and then Brislington, where he now lives with his partner, Robbie.
Speaking about the announcement, he said: “I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have been selected to represent our beautiful city of Bristol as the next lord mayor. Coming from a humble background, it is certainly a position I never expected to have.”
“I am a teacher at an international school in Clifton. One aspect of my job I enjoy, is meeting people from all over the world and learning about different cultures.
“I also love the fact that Bristol is such a great multicultural city and I am looking forward to meeting as many people as possible and celebrating this city’s wonderful diversity during my year as lord mayor.”
Main photo: Andrew Varney
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