A YEAR after she completed her term as chairman of Monmouthshire County Council, Councillor Jane Foulser will be installed as mayor of her home town of Abergavenny.

She was elected by her fellow town councillors at their meeting on Wednesday and will follow in the footsteps of Abergavenny's second woman mayor, Councillor Norma Watkins. Councillor Rosa Norris was the first woman to hold the office.

Councillor Paul Jordan suggested that whoever was nominated for the position should be asked to make a presentation if more than one person was nominated. He said it happened when someone ws nominated as chairman of the county council.But this idea was quashed after Councillor Douglas Edwards said it would be unfair because the nominees would have no time to prepare a speech. He was backed by Councillor James George who said: "I would recommend that it can be adopted for next time but it would be wrong to spring it on people tonight." Councillor George's amendment was adopted by seven votes to five.

Councillor George then proposed that Councillor Foulser should be elected. He said she has been an outstanding councillor for a number of years yet she has never been chosen as the mayor.

He was backed by Councillor Roger Harris who said: "She has been a stalwart member of the town council for many years and I know that the townspeople will welcome her and her husband for all they've done over the years."

She was elected in a secret ballot with eight votes for and five against and will be installed at a special ceremony in the Town Hall in May.

Councillor Foulser and her husbnd Bill have run the Musketeers Swimming Club for the disabled for more than 25 years and ran the Porpoise Swimming Club for more than two decades, teaching hundreds of local children to swim. They were also inolved in the running of Bailey Park outdoor swimming pool for many years and Mr Foulser, a talented artist, decorated the walls of the pool with colourful pictures of famous cartoon characters which were sponsored by local families.