Why it matters: Councillor Long's appointment marks a new chapter for Ipswich, with the locally born mayor bringing nearly two decades of engineering experience and a focus on celebrating the town's history and heritage.
The big picture: Councillor Long was invested with the Chain of Office and Mayoral Robes at the Annual Meeting of Ipswich Borough Council on Wednesday 14 May, succeeding former mayor Elango Elavalakan. Councillor Pat Bruce-Browne was appointed as Deputy Mayor.
The details: Born and raised in Ipswich, Long attended Copleston High School before beginning his apprenticeship at the Port of Felixstowe. His career has taken him as far as Shanghai, where he spent three months working on the installation of new quayside cranes. He was elected as Borough Councillor for Rushmere ward in 2022.
What's next: Long has chosen two charities for his mayoral year: Dora Brown, which helps restore homes to decent standards after falling into disrepair, and East Anglian Children's Hospices (EACH), which provides care and support to young children and their families.
"Over this next year I look forward to representing and celebrating Ipswich as Mayor, and raising as much money as possible for these two great charities," he said.
"The history of Ipswich has is something to be celebrated and to be proud of and, with that in mind, the themes of my mayoral year will be history, heritage, kindness and compassion."
The context: The Mayor of Ipswich is the official representative of the Crown in the Borough, second only to the Lord Lieutenant of the County. The role includes chairing Council meetings, acting as Returning Officer in Parliamentary Elections, and attending an average of 450-650 civic engagements each year.
The bottom line: Stefan Long's appointment as one of Ipswich's youngest mayors brings together his local roots and community service. His focus on history, heritage, kindness and compassion aims to celebrate what makes Ipswich special while supporting vital local charities.
It cost us ~£10 to produce this article
Our content is free to read thanks to the generous support of Kingsfleet, Ipswich Central and Happiness Club
Spend your time and money as you wish
Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
Ipswich Central
Ipswich Central is the Business Improvement District (BID) for the town centre, waterfront, and 'Connected Town' area.
Happiness Club
Based in Ipswich, Happiness Club is on a mission to help residents and businesses cultivate lasting happiness and wellbeing.AI test identifies heart disease before symptoms show, study finds
A 10-minute test using artificial intelligence has achieved an 80% positive predictive accuracy in detecting cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic patients, according to new research led by a professor at the University of Suffolk.Fire pods and gang awareness workshops grip Ipswich pupils
This year's Crucial Crew featured interactive scenarios on everything from online safety to criminal exploitation, with the smoke-filled Fire Pod proving most popular.Ellisons achieves top STEP accreditation for staff development
The Ipswich-based law firm has been awarded platinum status under the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Employer Partnership Programme, the highest level of recognition available.New East of England Co-op opens on Woodbridge Road tomorrow
The retailer's brand-new food store opens at 7:00 tomorrow morning, Wednesday, 18 June, replacing the current Brunswick Road location with a modern store offering better services and food-to-go options.Suffolk residents lose £407k to romance fraud in 114 cases
More than £407,000 was lost to romance fraud across Suffolk last year, with 114 incidents reported to police as national cases rise by 9%.Kingsfleet, Ipswich Central and Happiness Club
Spend your time and money as you wish
Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.Ipswich Central
Ipswich Central is the Business Improvement District (BID) for the town centre, waterfront, and 'Connected Town' area.Happiness Club
Based in Ipswich, Happiness Club is on a mission to help residents and businesses cultivate lasting happiness and wellbeing.Local hearing care firm backs dementia golf programme
All About Hearing has agreed a sponsorship deal with Seckford Golf Club to support their twice-monthly sessions for people living with dementia.Green Party rally draws 200+ supporters to Ipswich waterfront
More than 200 Green Party members and supporters gathered at the University of Suffolk on Saturday, hearing from MPs and party leaders before delivering leaflets across Ipswich and Suffolk.Christchurch Park to host Suffolk's Armed Forces Day celebration on 28 June
Ipswich Borough Council will host this year's Suffolk Armed Forces Day at Christchurch Park on Saturday, 28 June, featuring free family activities and live entertainment from 11am to 4pm.Claydon High student wins inaugural Suffolk Young Speaker award
A 14-year-old from Claydon High School was crowned Suffolk Young Speaker of the Year 2025 after nearly 70 young people competed in the first competition of its kind at Kesgrave Conference Centre.Albanian drug dealer jailed for three years after Ipswich arrest
A 35-year-old Albanian man caught with cocaine and fake Bulgarian ID documents in Ipswich has been sentenced to three years in prison.Kingsfleet, Ipswich Central and Happiness Club
Spend your time and money as you wish
Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.Ipswich Central
Ipswich Central is the Business Improvement District (BID) for the town centre, waterfront, and 'Connected Town' area.
