Councillor Inga Lockington looks forward to the year ahead ...
I am an Ipswich girl with a difference - I was born, the youngest of three girls, on a farm in northern Denmark. But I have learned to love my new home town of Ipswich in the 12 years I have been here.
I first came to live in England in 1979 when I married Tim, a local doctor. I was elected to St Margaret's Ward in 1999 and now I am to be Mayor. It is a great honour.
Ipswich is a great town and I love the people here. After travelling much of my life it has been good to put down roots. The welcome I received here made it very easy for me to feel a real sense of belonging.
I trained as a teacher of handicrafts but I have precious little time for that nowadays. I don't even have enough time for gardening, another of my passions. But I love nature and walking and I feel blessed that Ipswich not only has beautiful parks but is also so close to the coast. Walking along the beach reminds me of my childhood in Denmark and gives me a great sense of freedom.
Freedom is the theme for my year of office. I could not think of anything else in this important anniversary year of the abolition of slavery. But slavery comes in many different guises - there is freedom of action, freedom from poverty and discrimination and freedom from ill-health as well as injustice.
These themes are the reasons for my choice of official charities this year.
Firstly, I have chosen SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, the appeal launched this year by the Evening Star and the Borough Council to help street prostitutes. They need freedom, too - freedom from drugs and abuse. Education about the evil of drugs misuse is vital.
Secondly, I have picked THE IPSWICH & SUFFOLK PARKINSON'S SOCIETY. This is very much a personal choice as my husband has much experience of this illness as a doctor. Without treatment, this illness can leave people locked into their own world. They, too, deserve freedom.
Finally, there is IPSWICH WILDLIFE GROUP. This reflects my love of nature and perhaps a desire of all of us to feel free. We have a responsibility to look after the Earth, both globally and locally.
Tim and I, along with our sons, Jonathan and Christopher, are very much looking forward to this year and to meeting many, many people from all walks of life. My ancestors won a less than savoury reputation when they visited these shores; I trust my year of office will be more peaceful