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New Mayor of Ealing

Thu 12 May 2016
Councillor Dr Patricia Walker was formally elected as the new Mayor of Ealing at the annual meeting of the council in Ealing Town Hall on Tuesday, 10 May 2016.

As Mayor, Councillor Dr Walker will undertake all civic ceremonial duties within the borough. This includes attendance at Remembrance Day Service, granting of Freedom of the Borough and greeting members of the royal family when visiting the borough. She will also chair meetings of the full council.

She has served the borough for more than 12 years and was first elected to the council in 2006 representing North Greenford ward, and appointed to the shadow cabinet with the portfolio for children and young people. Four years later she contested and won the election for Acton Central ward and held the cabinet portfolio for children and families until 2013. Followed by the cabinet post for adult services and public health and then for leisure, sport and libraries.

Councillor Dr Walker takes over as Mayor of Ealing from Councillor Harbhajan Kaur Dheer, who stepped down at the meeting. During her term Councillor Kaur Dheer attended and presided over hundreds of official engagements, including lighting the borough’s beacon in Southall to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday in April.

The Worshipful the Mayor of the London Borough of Ealing, Councillor Dr Walker, said: “I am honoured to accept this role as I take over from a wonderful mayor, friend and fellow councillor. We have the privilege of living in an incredibly diverse and vibrant community in Ealing and, in my role as mayor, I look forward to getting to know more about the borough and the people who live here. I intend to immerse myself in my civic duties and work hard to raise the profile of my chosen charity over the coming year.”

During her political career Councillor Dr Walker has been a member of a number of council committees and has also been appointed to various outside bodies, including Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College and Gunnersbury Park Regeneration Trust.

In her professional career, specialising in international higher education, she has experience teaching at universities in the UK, Nigeria and Japan, and maintains a strong interest in children’s services, particularly in relation to issues such as language development.

Married with two children and three grandchildren, Councillor Dr Walker follows in the footsteps of her mother, Alberta Patricia Wallace who was Mayor (and Alderman) of Gateshead.

The new Mayor’s charity for 2016/17 is Acton Homeless Concern. Her consorts will be her husband, Mr Lawrence Walker, and her son, Mr Christian Walker.

At the meeting, Councillor Simon Woodroofe was appointed Deputy Mayor. Councillor Julian Bell, leader of the council, also announced the cabinet for the 2016/2017 municipal year. This includes Councillor Peter Mason as cabinet member for prosperity, skills, employment and transformation, who takes over from Councillor Steve Hynes now appointed chair of the Planning Committee.

Appointment of leader and cabinet members 2016/2017:
  • Councillor Julian Bell – leader of the council (policy overview portfolio)
  • Councillor Ranjit Dheer – community services and safety, and deputy leader
  • Councillor Binda Rai – children and young people
  • Councillor Yvonne Johnson – finance and performance
  • Councillor Hitesh Tailor – health and adult services
  • Councillor Jasbir Anand – housing
  • Councillor Bassam Mahfouz – transport, environment and leisure
  • Councillor Peter Mason – prosperity, skills, employment and transformation.

New Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Dr Patricia Walker

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