A love affair with Oxford, which she visited by chance as a teenager, was the turning point in Val Smith's life, reports Phil Clee.

She stayed and met her future husband - later to become the MP for Oxford East, Andrew Smith - raised a son, and has spent many years serving the local community as a hard-working councillor.

And for the past year she has worn the mayoral chain and robes as her adopted city's first citizen - not bad for a youngster from the back streets of Salford, as she herself would be the first to admit.

As she prepares to step down at the end of her term of office, she looks back on a busy and exciting year in which she represented the city on many occasions and met a host of people from all walks of life. They couldn't have come much higher than the VIP guest she offered the city's welcome to on her first day in office, when the Queen paid an official visit last May to coincide with the 750th anniversary of University College.

Mrs Smith's recollection was: "She was charming, very sweet. I thought she was a really nice lady."

The following day's engagement couldn't have offered a greater contrast, presenting trophies to her 'local' soccer team, the Blackbirds FC from Blackbird Leys where she has been a Labour city councillor since 1983.

The following day, she was chief guest at the Oxford Canal Festival near Wolvercote. Her year continued with a varied programme of visits and functions, and the chance to experience occasions she would not otherwise have had the chance to, such as meeting the United Nations Secretary, Kofi Annan, hearing speeches by Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine, at the Sheldonian.

Looking back, Mrs Smith is emphatic in her appreciation of what her civic year has meant to her.

"The main thing is how I've enjoyed it and what a wonderful experience it has been," she said. "I've visited so many organisations and met such wonderful people. It's choked me on numerous occasions to see the work being carried out by volunteers. "It's very humbling, as they do such a wonderful job."

The impression made has obviously been a deep one, as Mrs Smith was not content simply to be an onlooker, and has since joined three organisations with whom she identifies closely.

She now gives her support to Homestart, which helps young families in need; the Ormerod School for severely disabled children; and the Alzheimer's Society - "we're all getting older, and more people are getting it," she comments.

But as one civic door closes, another is about to open, as Mrs Smith is to become the next Sheriff of Oxford. "I love Port Meadow, and people have been asking me if I'll be taking part in the traditional roundup on horseback. If I do, it will have to be very old, very thin and not very high!

"Seriously, it's been an absolutely fantastic year. It's a shame everyone can't do it for a fortnight to find out what fun it is," she added.