THE NEW Wokingham Borough Mayor for the coming year was elected at the annual meeting of council on May 18.
Cllr Beth Rowland has taken over the chain of office from Cllr Caroline Smith.
As the ‘first citizen’ of the borough, the mayor holds a civic role, representing the council and the people of the borough as well as presiding over borough council meetings.
Unless His Majesty The King or his representative is in attendance, the mayor takes precedence over any other dignitaries at events within the borough.
Cllr Rowland said: “I am delighted to serve as your Wokingham Borough Mayor and would like to thank people for putting their faith in me for the coming year.
“I will carry out this position to the best of my ability and hope to live up to the legacy of my predecessor, Cllr Caroline Smith who has been a great example to us all.
“As Mayor I look forward to meeting residents as well as many of the great organisations active across the Borough.
“It’s an opportunity to show how they are valued as well as shining a spotlight on the fantastic work they are doing to make Wokingham Borough such a wonderful place.”
Cllr Rowland represents the South Lake Ward in Woodley, where she has been a resident for almost 50 years. She has four children, all educated locally, and eight grandchildren.
She has also been a governor at South Lake Primary School for nearly 40 years and for more than 20 years at Highwood Primary School.
With more than 25 years of experience as a councillor, Cllr Rowland also served as Mayor of Woodley in 2000. She is also a Woodley Town councillor, a trustee at Waingels Academy and has worked at Berkshire Credit Union since her retirement more than a decade ago.
She is also a member of Christ Church in Woodley.
Last year, Cllr Rowland raised £1,250 for Macmillan Cancer Support after having her head shaved in public. She ‘braved the shave’ having been inspired by several people in her life who were diagnosed with cancer.
The mayor is traditionally tasked with choosing a charity to benefit from fundraising during their year in office, and this year Cllr Rowland has chosen Woodley Foodbank, which helps those in the village and surrounding areas fight food poverty.
The initiative is part of the Pilot Light Trust, a registered charity set up by the churches of Woodley. Established in 1997, it has been providing food to its community for more than 25 years.
Alongside Cllr Rowland, Cllr Adrian Mather, who represents Evendons ward, will serve as deputy mayor.
Cllr Mather has been a Wokingham resident since 1999 and has three grown-up children who were all born and educated locally.
He was previously chair of the Wokingham Borough Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee and also a partner governor of the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust and a representative on the joint Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
It is his intention to continue, where possible, these or similar roles and therefore represent health aspects of Wokingham Borough residents.
Cllr Mather has been a councillor for four years, representing the borough and town councils for Evendons ward. Since 2005, he has worked for a large software company.
