Councillor Mick Tomlinson, regarded by many as Mr Margate, has become the town's new mayor -- and if anyone has a perspective on the future of Margate it’s Mick, known to most simply as Mick Tee.

He still runs the ever-popular Mick Tee Set disco which has set generations of residents and visitors rocking and rolling at venues around the town; he has been the cornerstone of Margate carnival procession for decades and has been part of the summer attraction for more than 50 years; and his support for Dreamland amusement park from its glory days of the 1960s through to its current fight for survival and rebranding is legendary.

One of the biggest honours for Mick and his wife Shirley were when they were invited to be mayor and mayoress in 2005 - and the couple are once again the town’s figureheards, this time for 2010/2011.

Both district councillors, they have stepped into the breech earlier than the official mayor-making in May following the resignation of mayor Cllr Ted Watt-Ruffell.

Mick said: “Most people know how myself and Shirely feel about Margate - we believe in its fantastic potential and celebrate its past as the birthplace of seabathing and resort holidays.

“Speak to a real Margatonian and they will tell you that though the town appears to have been on its knees in recent years, they still believe it can turn the corner and regain its place as one of the foremost resorts in the UK. A real sense of civic pride remains.”

He believes that the mix of nostalgia and heritage and the prospects of the burgeoning arts scene spearheaded by the Turner Contemporary arts gallery can be a potent force.

He added: “Many exciting and relevant plans under way, with others about to come to fruition. So much effort, time and hope have gone into plotting the town’s way ahead and myself and Shirley are proud to serve the town at this critical period in its history.
“We are fortunate to have dedicated and enthusiastic support from the deputy mayor and mayoress Brian and Karen Sullivan, fellow councillors, the Charter Trustees, groups, organisations, businesses and individuals. Together we can strive to make the dreams for Margate become a reality.

“I have a catchphrase for our town’s fortunes - Margate’s Turning - and I think it really it is.”