A dedicated rower who has represented the country and now leads the next generation of young hopefuls at Maidenhead Rowing Club has become the 45th mayor of the Royal Borough.

Cllr Paul Lion, who represents Boyn Hill, was elected as Mayor for 2018/19 during the annual mayor-making ceremony at the Town Hall, Maidenhead on Tuesday. His wife Laura will be mayoress.

Cllr Lion was born in Grenfell Road, Maidenhead and introduced to rowing by his father John. He learned to cox at Maidenhead Rowing Club when he was nine and is now president.

The new mayor won gold for England in the junior single sculls at the Silver Jubilee Regatta and Serpentine Home Counties in 1977, gold in the National Championships and represented Great Britain in the junior single sculls at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Belgrade. In 1983 he won gold again for Maidenhead Rowing Club in quadruple sculls at the National Championships.

He and Mrs Lion have two children – Benjamin, a commercial pilot and Katy who works in international business.

The new Mayor said: “I feel it is a huge honour to be able to represent the Royal Borough as First Citizen, along with my wife Laura.

“We met at Maidenhead Leisure Centre when we were 16 and have worked together in sport and business for over 40 years."

In the audience to watch Cllr Lion become mayor was his old rowing chum - the legendary Sir Steve Redgrave.

The new mayor's chosen charities for the year will be the Royal British Legion and the Royal National Life Boat Institution.

Outgoing Mayor, Cllr John Lenton raised over £13,000 for his chosen charities during his year as first citizen, for Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, Berkshire Community Foundation and Thames Hospice (they received £4,355 each).

*The new Deputy Mayor who officially took on his new role at the ceremony will be Cllr Colin Rayner, who has represented Horton and Wraysbury since June 2005. He is a past mayor and deputy mayor.

His wife Cllr Samantha Rayner will be deputy mayoress.