The new chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Yvonne Woodhead, said she was privileged, proud and excited to be elected.

Coun Woodhead, (pictured), previously vice-chairman, was born and raised in Blidworth, the community she now represents as a parish, district and county councillor.

She went to school in Blidworth and later was among the first pupils to attend Joseph Whitaker School in Rainworth, before continuing her education at West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield and working for the Co-operative Society.

First elected to Haywood Oaks and subsequently Blidworth parish councils in the 1980s, she became a Newark and Sherwood district councillor in 1995 and a Nottinghamshire county councillor in 2000.

Coun Woodhead will continue as a serving member of the adult social care and health, personnel and planning and licensing committees. She will also continue to represent the council on the Nottinghamshire Access Forum and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Married to John for more than 40 years, she has three sons and several grandchildren.

Following her appointment, Coun Woodhead said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 12 months as vice-chairman and feel extremely privileged, proud and excited to be elected as chairman for the next year.”

She has chosen Portland College as the Chairman’s Charity for 2016/17, adding: “Portland College is known locally, regionally and nationally for the fantastic work it does with young people and putting the ability into disability.

“The college is developing its outreach programme, which will take many of the services it provides at its base near Mansfield, out into communities across the county — something in particular that I am keen to support.”

The new vice-chairman of the council is Coun Mike Pringle, one of the newest members, having been elected to represent Ollerton in December 2014.