New Mayor for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council - Alderman Noel Williams

Alliance Alderman Noel Williams has taken over the chain of office at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, having been elected as Mayor at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on Monday 6 June.

Speaking about the prestigious appointment, the newly elected Mayor, Alderman Williams said:

“I’m honoured to take up the chain of office for my home Borough of Mid and East Antrim.

“As Mayor, it will be my great privilege to serve every citizen who calls this place home, and my complete honour to represent the Borough and its people on the public stage.

“It is no secret that this past year has been a difficult one for the Council, both internally and in terms of our continued recovery from the worst effects of Covid-19.

“As we bounce back from the pandemic, we are now contending with a cost of living crisis, worsening fuel poverty, and ever-increasing healthcare waiting lists.

“At the helm of the Borough Council, which has ambitious plans to strengthen our local economy, attract business to our high streets, and make local improvements to our communities wherever we see opportunities, I will lead from the front in promoting and facilitating those plans. Moreover, I will ensure that our ambitions are achieved in an open and transparent manner.

“With a lengthy ‘to-do list’ in front of me, I look forward to working alongside the Deputy Mayor, Elected Members, Council Officers, and the citizens of our Borough to ensure Mid and East Antrim continues to be the greatest place in Northern Ireland to live and work”.

Alderman Williams was born and raised in Sunnylands, Carrickfergus. He attended Sunnylands Primary School and the old Carrickfergus Technical college in the heart of the town, before pursuing a full and exciting career in aviation with the Royal Air Force, finishing his service in the rank of Wing Commander.

On return to Northern Ireland, he became Head of the Energy Saving Trust, and also served as a Councillor for the legacy Carrickfergus Borough Council.

In recent years, Alderman Williams has juggled his work on Mid and East Antrim Council, with being the Head of Operations for Stewart Dickson MLA and the East Antrim Constituency. He is also the current Chair of the Alliance members East Antrim Association.

Many will know him as the Chair of the RAF Association, in Northern Ireland, and Chair of the local Carrickfergus Branch, as well as his charitable endeavours over the past 15 years in raising welfare funds for the veterans’ community through the annual Wings Appeal charity campaign.

He has nominated two charities as his Mayoral charities, namely the RAF Association and the young people’s mental health charity ‘Pure Mental’.

Alderman Williams replaces outgoing Mayor Councillor William McCaughey whilst the reins of Deputy Mayor were handed over by Councillor Matthew Armstrong.