AFTER more than 25 years as a city councillor Liberal Democrat Jean Fooks will finish her political career in style after finally accepting the offer of becoming Lord Mayor of Oxford.

Mrs Fooks, who is also a county councillor for Wolvercote and Summertown in addition to representing Summertown on Oxford City Council, was first elected to the city's local authority in 1992.

On a number of occasions she has turned down the honour of being appointed Lord Mayor because she was too busy helping residents, but now she has finally agreed.

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The mother-of-two and grandmother-of-two will replace Mohammed Altaf-Khan in May and then, following her year in office, will spend more time with her family in the West Country.

She has also decided not to stand again for re-election as a county councillor at elections in May, and will not stand for re-election as a city councillor when her term ends in 2018.

Mrs Fooks said: "It's daunting, becoming Lord Mayor but I have finally been persuaded to do it.

"I have always said before that I was too busy to do it but lots of people from different parties have persuaded me that it would be the right thing to do and so I have agreed.

"In 2018 at the end of my year as Lord Mayor I plan to move nearer my daughter Carolyn, who lives near Exeter."

Mrs Fooks said she would try to ensure she was not caught up in political rows during her term of office as that would not be appropriate as Lord Mayor.

She added: "Of course I will continue to represent my constituents but I will try to remember that the Lord Mayor's role is a ceremonial one.

"One of my duties will be to chair council meetings, which is a slightly nerve-racking prospect.

"During my time of office the new Westgate Centre will open so I hope to be asked to take part at the official opening and also in anniversary celebrations for Oxford's twinning link with Bonn."

Mrs Fooks studied physics at Somerville College from 1958 to 1961 and enjoyed a career working in a number of different roles, including as a teacher and at the unit of clinical epidemiology in Headington.

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She also worked for Richard Peto at the Radcliffe Infirmary on leukaemia trials.

But after stopping work in 1997 she concentrated on her work as a councillor and led the city council's Liberal Democrat group until she recently handed over the leadership to Andrew Gant.

She was the councillor in charge of the city works department in 2006 when wheelie bins were rolled out – not a popular decision with everyone.

She said: "I was accused of desecrating Oxford by the preservation trust and it was suggested that super rats would be created but the rat population has not actually benefited from the introduction of wheelie bins and the recycling rate did improve."

Mrs Fooks said it has been 'rewarding' being a councillor and she would recommend the role to others.

She added: "You are the interface between the citizen and the council and you can take on their problems – it's rewarding when you do manage to solve them."

During her year as Lord Mayor, city councillor Christine Simm will be Deputy Lord Mayor while Mohammed Altaf-Khan will be High Sheriff.