Graduating University of Leicester Student is New Lady Mayoress

Among the University of Leicester students graduating at the De Montfort Hall on the morning of Thursday 15th July will be Leicester's new Lady Mayoress.

This is the first time a serving Lord Mayor or Lady Mayoress has been a Leicester student. In the past, a number of graduates have served as Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.

Eleanor Davidson, who will be wearing her Mayoral chain of office for the occasion, will be graduating with a Master's Degree from the University's acclaimed Centre for English Local History.

Speaking of her studies, she said: "I enjoyed the course at Marc Fitch House tremendously. It was hard work but also great fun and we all benefited from our lecturers' encouragement and support.

"I particularly appreciated the free rein they gave me to research my chosen subjects. Both local people and others from various parts of Britain and overseas study for the Master's in English Local History at Leicester.

"I hope my experiences might inspire other mature people to return to studying. Lifelong learning is a wonderful way to live life and make friendships. The University of Leicester certainly lives up to its value of being 'Elite without being Elitist.'"

Eleanor Davidson has been awarded a PhD Studentship to continue her research at the University of Leicester. Her subject will be: British Social, Cultural and Community Life through a detailed study of the evolution of funeral practices and ideology as significant factors in the secularisation of religion.

It is her interest in Humanism that was a major factor in her appointment as Lady Mayoress. Five years ago she trained with the British Humanist Association as a Humanist Celebrant and she now plays a prominent role in Secularist and Humanist movements, conducting funerals for local families and popularising Humanist/Non-religious rites of passage.

The Lord Mayor Councillor Colin Hall explained: "Eleanor came to my attention through her work of many years' standing within the community, both in my ward of New Parks and elsewhere in the city, which has earned her substantial admiration and respect among those with whom she has come into contact. It is for that reason I considered her a suitable candidate for the post of Lady Mayoress.

"She was born and raised in Leicester and greatly appreciates the opportunity she will have to serve the city."

Eleanor works as a volunteer with the Leicester Hospitals NHS Trust Chaplaincy Department and with Leicester College representing those who choose to live without religion in their lives.

Born and raised on an estate, a product of what was then termed a 'broken home', Eleanor's working-class beginnings were, she says, humble and challenging.

She won a place at Alderman Newton's Girls' Grammar School, but ill health meant she left with only a handful of O Levels at sixteen. It was not until two decades later, when chronic illnesses were better understood, that she gained A Levels and went on to read Hispanic Studies at the University of Nottingham, graduating with a 2:1.

She taught languages at Leicester further education colleges and was a self-employed business woman before taking up her career in Humanism.

Eleanor took up office as Lady Mayoress at the Mayor-Making Ceremony at the Leicester Town Hall on Thursday 27th May. Her duties will be to support the Lord Mayor in his role as First Citizen, maintaining and promoting the interests of the City and its citizens.

She commented: "I'm most looking forward to meeting people, listening to their news and views, observing what goes on in this fantastic melting pot which is Leicester, and also reaching out to people/organisations/parts of the City that may be marginalised.

"I'm looking forward to absolutely everything, from visiting local schools to receiving foreign dignitaries, participating in the life of the City and promoting its merits.

"As a Humanist Celebrant and as an historian, I feel honoured to be afforded the opportunity to play a role in the history of the City."

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER- A member of the 1994 Group of universities that shares a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.

- Winner of Outstanding Student Support award, Times Higher 2009/10 - Named University of the Year by Times Higher (2008/9) Shortlisted (2006, 2005) and by the Sunday Times (2007)

- Ranked top with Cambridge for student satisfaction amongst full time students taught at mainstream universities in England

- Ranked as a Top 20 UK university by the Sunday Times, Guardian, and Times

- Ranked in world's top 3% of universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong International Index, 2005-08 and the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings

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