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.
