A new Mayor of Alfreton has been elected – and he’ll be a familiar face to many.

Councillor John Walker has become the town’s Mayor for the sixth time since he was first elected to Alfreton Town Council in 1991.

He has also served as the Mayor of Amber Valley three times.

Councillor Walker was elected to the role at a meeting of Alfreton Town Council on Tuesday (May 17), taking over from Councillor Steve Marshall-Clarke, who was recently voted to represent the town on Amber Valley Borough Council.

On his election, Councillor Walker, who was recently bereaved by the death of his wife, said: “I am surprised but delighted and I have the support of my family.

“It will be a hectic time with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and with many events around that. We are having a beacon and I will be lighting it to honour her.”

Councillor Walker has clear priorities for the town.

He said: “My main hope is that we will get disabled access to Platform 2 at Alfreton Station because that has been going on since 2006.

“To me, that’s essential. The town by 40 per cent in the last 20 years and I do believe a lot of people moved into the town because we’ve got a railway station.

“Another thing I want to go for is to get a train service back to London. I think that’s a priority.”

Direct train services between Alfreton and London were stopped in May last year.

Anybody who wants to travel from Alfreton to London now has to change at Nottingham.

Alfreton Town Council has organised a range of events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Set to take place over four days, the celebrations will kick off with a Beacon Lighting Ceremony and Open Evening at Alfreton Park Community Special School on Thursday, June 2.

This will be followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at St Martins Church on Friday, June 3. The event will be attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill, CBE.

Party in the Town! on Saturday, June 4, will see live musical performances take place at Alfreton House.

There will be a Royal Teddy Bears Picnic at Alfreton Park on Sunday, June 5, before the celebrations end with a performance by Death of the High Street at Alfreton Cricket Club later that evening.

You can find out more about the celebrations here.