Judith is revving up town's future as she takes up position as town's 484th Mayor

It's a cliché to say that if Judith Skinner was a stick of rock she'd have BOSTON written all the way through her.
New Mayor of Boston Coun Judith Skinner with husband and fellow Boston Borough Council Coun Paul Skinner.New Mayor of Boston Coun Judith Skinner with husband and fellow Boston Borough Council Coun Paul Skinner.
New Mayor of Boston Coun Judith Skinner with husband and fellow Boston Borough Council Coun Paul Skinner.

But the 484th Mayor is Boston through and through.

Coun Skinner was officially inaugurated as the new Mayor of Boston, and Admiral of the Wash, at the Annual General Meeting of Boston Borough Council on Monday night.

Judith was born at the former Wyberton West Hospital and has lived all her life in the borough.

Bostons new Mayor Judith Skinner, right, with her husband and consort Paul Skinner, Deputy Mayor Yvonne Stevens and her consort, her eldest son Vincent Forinton pictured after the Mayor Making ceremony at the annual general meeting of Boston Borough Council last night.Bostons new Mayor Judith Skinner, right, with her husband and consort Paul Skinner, Deputy Mayor Yvonne Stevens and her consort, her eldest son Vincent Forinton pictured after the Mayor Making ceremony at the annual general meeting of Boston Borough Council last night.
Bostons new Mayor Judith Skinner, right, with her husband and consort Paul Skinner, Deputy Mayor Yvonne Stevens and her consort, her eldest son Vincent Forinton pictured after the Mayor Making ceremony at the annual general meeting of Boston Borough Council last night.

She says she will make it her mission during her year in office to promote the Boston she knows and loves.

“I’m a cup half full sort of person and I believe that Boston has a lot going for it,” she said.

She has had a long stint at the helm of the Prosperous Boston task group, collecting evidence and investigating ways in which the town can be better for residents, shoppers and for those who work and visit here.

Judith’s father came from farming stock and her late parents were smallholders at The Broads, Old Leake, and then Sibsey Road, where she lived with her two older sisters, who now live in Bournemouth and New Zealand.

Judith and Paul Skinner with Ted.Judith and Paul Skinner with Ted.
Judith and Paul Skinner with Ted.

She was educated at Butterwick Primary School – at the infants’ school and then a few hundred yards along the road at the junior school - before going to Giles Secondary School. After a short spell in the accounts department of seed merchants Sinclair McGill she joined Lloyds Bank where, apart from a break to have her first daughter, she has worked ever since.

Judith met Paul at a dance at Freiston when she was just 15 and a school friend of his sister.

They were married just before her 20th birthday and then along came Amy, 28, a pharmacist in Great Yarmouth, and Megan, 23, a product design teacher at Lutterworth College.

Judith and Paul live at Fishtoft.

Paul is a Fishtoft Parish Councillor, so Judith had an insight into public service before she became a Boston Borough Councillor in 2011.

Paul, 60, is also a Lincolnshire County Councillor and has been a Boston Borough Councillor since 2015.He is currently portfolio holder for regulatory services at the authority.

Judith, 56, said she is interested in environmental issues and the way that history can inform innovation.

She is hopeful that an avalanche of positive comment about Boston can overwhelm the negative and portray the town as a place that more people would want to work, live and visit.

“I am excited to be Mayor. I have had lots of good wishes and I want to live up to it. I am looking forward to meeting people and having the opportunity to promote Boston,” she said.

Away from work and council Judith and Paul have been members of the Caravan Club for 25 years and have more recently moved from caravan to camper van after using one in New Zealand on a trip to visit Judith’s sister.

Paul is a keen cyclist and canoeist, but it’s when he rides one of his motorcycles that Judith joins in – so watch out for the Mayor at Boston Bike Night, possible arriving on the pillion of a 1961 650cc BSA Super Rocket or a rare 750cc Honda Nighthawk.

Judith has chosen Macmillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer’s Society as her charities for the year. She chose Macmillan because in 2009 she had breast cancer. She is now in complete remission but said the experience gave her a different perspective of life. She has previously raised funds for Cancer Research UK and Lloyds Bank has a programme to help customers suffering from cancer.

She has chosen the Alzheimer’s Society after having first-hand experience of people living with dementia after attending a Lloyds Bank Day To Make A Difference when she visited the dementia cafe held at the Len Medlock Centre and saw the good work done by reminiscence demonstrators who need funding.

Lloyds will contribute to the funds Judith raises for the two charities. She thanked the bank for enabling her to accept Mayoral duties, and colleagues at work who will swap days to accommodate her appointments.

Deputy Mayor will be Cllr Yvonne Stevens and her consort will be her eldest son, Vincent Forinton.