Lifeguard Emma Humphreys is making waves across Salford - as the city's youngest-ever mayoress. The 25-year-old splits her time between her duties safeguarding lives at a Salford Community Leisure pool and accompanying her aunt, ceremonial mayor Ann-Marie Humphreys, on her many civic visits.
Emma, a former pupil of All Hallows RC High School in Salford, qualified as a make-up artist after returning from a stint living in Spain, but she opted to use her skills as a strong swimmer to become a lifeguard. When Ann-Marie was chosen to be mayor, she asked Emma to be mayoress and her partner Keith Bryers to be consort so the workload of civic engagements could be shared because of work commitments.
Emma admitted she was unaware of what the role entailed when she first took it on. "I have only really learned about it as I have gone along," she said.
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"But I am finding it is a rare experience and privilege to do this at such a young age. I feel very lucky. We are meeting some people doing great work for charity around the city, which is an honour for us to meet them and recognise what great work they do."
Meanwhile, Ann-Marie praised the contribution Emma and her care worker partner Keith are making to her term in office.
A councillor since 2004 for the Quays ward, she is a science graduate of Salford University and is a qualified wine specialist.
But she's taking time out from working to concentrate on her term in office and supporting the mayor's charities - Salford Loaves and Fishes, Salford Children's Holiday Camp and Animals in Distress, based in Irlam.
So far, the mayoral team have raised £13,660 for the three charities.
And the mayor is keen to promote a series of forthcoming events for the city of Salford.
These include a Carol Concert at Salford Cathedral on Thursday December 1, starting at 6pm; the Mayor's Calendar promotion at GC Galleries in Chapel Street on December 7 and a special event on December 15 at the De Lacy Fine Art Gallery where a bronze statue of a horse and a bust of the late broadcaster and music entrepreneur Tony Wilson will on display. Following the invitation-only event, the exhibits will be open to the public.
The climax of the mayor's term will be mayor's charity ball on March 4 in 2023 before it comes to an end in May.
After that, Ann-Marie, who currently must remain impartial when presiding over Salford city council meetings, will return to front-line local politics as a Labour member.
Her only misgiving is the amount of online abuse politicians get in new digital age.
"It's a shame," she said. "It puts a lot of good people off and politics needs good people."
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