'Huge honour' to be new mayor of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton's 167th mayor says he is "really looking forward to meeting all the wonderful people in our city", after being officially appointed.

Councillor Paul Singh took over the chains of office from outgoing mayor Craig Collingswood, at an inauguration at Wednesday's Annual Council Meeting.

Singh, whose wife, Ranjit Dhillon, is mayoress, said it was "a huge honour" and his motto for his year in office would be "Through sports we grow, because I've grown through sport".

Wolverhampton Judo Club and Wolverhampton Boxing Club are among four charities he has chosen to support.

Councillor Wendy Thompson was appointed deputy mayor for 2026/27, with her cousin, Caraline Holding, acting as her consort, the council said.

Singh, who has served the Penn ward since 2007, was deputy mayor for the 2025-26 municipal year.

He said he was "really looking forward to... visiting all the groups which do such good work in our communities".

The mayor asked residents to please invite him "to your events and, if I am able to, I will come along and show my support".

The city's boxing club is one of the oldest in the UK, having been founded in 1936 by a group of local businessmen, the council says.

The mayor's other selected sports organisation, formed in 1966, is "widely recognised to be among the UK's premier judo clubs".

Friends of Di's Kitchen is also among Singh's chosen charities. It provides food for anyone in need across Wolverhampton, with volunteers delivering meals to homes once a week, the council said.

The other charity, Inspire You, aims to develop, support and nurture young people, the authority added.

Singh, a Wolves fan whose first match was witnessing their 7-1 drubbing of Chelsea in 1975, said he was determined to "raise vital funds" for his four charities.

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