Elizabeth Mizon - 571st Sheriff of Southampton

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th May 2008

Liz Mizon - Southampton's new Sheriff

Councillor Elizabeth Mizon first came to Southampton from Lancashire in 1967 to take up her first teaching appointment which was at Weston Park Junior School.

After leaving the city to get married she then taught in Oxford and London but returned when her husband took a post at Southampton University. Whilst her children were small she was involved with the community play school, was a governor of two Southampton schools and the School Governor Training Co-ordinator.

Cllr Mizon has had the same house in Bassett for 26 years, but has also lived in Australia, America and latterly in Italy for eight years. Whilst in Italy, she wrote the Sunflower Guide to walking in Tuscany and chaired the board of the International School in Florence.

On returning to Southampton Cllr Mizon was keen to get involved with her community and it was a surprising but pleasing outcome for her when elected as Councillor for Bassett in 2002. On her return from Italy, Cllr Mizon had been shocked by the level of anti-social behaviour in the city and the country. For her, tackling this issue seemed to be an important priority for the Council and the Government. She was happy then to accept the portfolio of "Communities and Regeneration" as it included "City Safety" and the possibility of strengthening communities so they are strong enough to influence the behaviour in their neighbourhood.

The Mayor's Office provides support for the Mayor and Sheriff. The office manages their diaries and provides information and guidance for groups and organisations who wish to invite the Mayor to events. The Mayor's office also organises the traditional ceremonies of Court Leet and Beating the Boundaries that are held by the Sheriff.