Councillor Johnson (71), a music-lover who spent 50 years in the clothes trade, said his new Deputy Mayor Bill Daws had kindly agreed to chair a special committee looking to raise funds for EACH as the mayor's annual charity.

"I would ask everyone to try to support us in some way – if you have a fundraising idea please speak to me or Bill or anyone in the civic team," he said.

The Snettisham councillor, who followed the sword and mace-bearers in official regalia as he walked through guests to take his seat on the podium, said: "It is important that the mayor visits as many parts of the borough as is possible during the year.

"I will be delighted to respond to invitations to any of the 100 or so parishes and meeting many of the residents there, whether they be young or old."

Mr Johnson will be supported by his wife, Sheila, as the Mayoress and he has chosen his local rector, the Rev Geoff Suart, to be the mayor's chaplain.

Mr Daws, a former Royal Navy serviceman and "a Linnet through and through", said he was particularly looking forward to entertaining the successful Lynn football team, and celebrating its achievements, as one of his first engagements.

"However, I am just as committed to the rest of the borough and indeed my home is at the extreme southern edge (Denver)," he said. His wife, Shirley, will be the Deputy Mayoress.

This year's mayor-making also included a ceremony to welcome seven new honorary aldermen – Julyan Ansell, Ted Benefer, Paul Brandon, Alan and Brenda Burch, Carol Sharp and Lawrence "Slim" Wilkinson – to the borough's ranks. All had given long and distinguished service to the council.

Mr Johnson individually presented them with their badges and a framed citation and each of the new aldermen thanked councillors for the honour bestowed on them.

Wishing Mr Johnson and Mr Daws all the best for their new roles, outgoing mayor Kathy Mellish said she and her consort, partner Stephen Collins, had been to "all sorts of ceremonies, gatherings and groups" during the past year and had met "some lovely people".

Particularly memorable had been the recent Royal Anglians' homecoming parade in Lynn's Tuesday Market Place and last year's event for local couples celebrating their diamond wedding at the same time as The Queen and Prince Philip, she said.

Council leader Nick Daubney said Mrs Mellish had been an "outstanding" mayor, displaying skill, innovation, humour and warm hospitality, and fulfilling her role "so ably and so enthusiastically".

Her deputy, Michael Langwade, also deserved the council's gratitude for bringing to the civic office "great decorum, knowledge and wisdom", he added.

Mr Daubney said the new Mayor was a "caring, conscientious and sincere man", who would bring credit to the office.