Councillor Tejinder Dhami was formally elected as the new Mayor of Ealing at the annual meeting of the full council on Tuesday, 22 May 2018.

As Mayor, Councillor Dhami will undertake all civic ceremonial duties within the borough. This includes attendance at the Remembrance Day Service and greeting members of the royal family visiting the borough. He will also chair meetings of the full council.

The new Mayor will be assisted in his duties by Councillor Abdullah Gulaid who was appointed Deputy Mayor

As part of his new role Councillor Dhami will also hold events throughout the year to raise money to support his chosen local charities Heartlink and Age Link.

Councillor Dhami was first elected as a councillor for the Dormers Wells ward (Southall) in 2002 where he has continued to serve for the past 16 years.

He has undertaken a variety of duties, including vice chair of the regulatory committee and a member of both corporate parent and freedom of the borough committees. He was also Labour group secretary from 2006 to 2013 and assistant whip.

He came to the UK in 1962 and has lived and worked in Ealing since then. In his working life Councillor Dhami worked for the Lyons Maid ice cream factory for 28 years and then for Marks and Spencer up to his retirement.

He is a life member of the Indian Workers Association (IWA) and has been an executive member of the IWA since 1997. He has a keen interest in sport, playing hockey for Ealing Technical College and taking part in Indian Gymkhana in the 1970s and is a life member of the Indian Gymkhana.

Councillor Dhami will be supported by his wife Rajinder during his mayoral year. They enjoy travelling, making regular trips to Canada and India to catch up with family and friends, and spending time with their four children and three grandchildren.

Councillor Dhami said: "I am very excited and honoured to be Mayor of Ealing for the coming year and to sharing this with my wife. The past year as deputy Mayor has given me a taste of what to expect and I look forward to a busy year in which I’ll get the chance to meet so many of Ealing’s residents. I also look forward to supporting my two chosen charities and seeing them benefit from my mayoral year."

He takes over the mayoralty from Councillor Simon Woodroofe who stepped down on Tuesday. He dedicated his mayoral year to raising funds for his two chosen charities, The Log Cabin and Ealing Age UK, each of which will equally benefit from the £12,000 raised. Councillor Woodroofe said: "I have had a very good and enjoyable year exploring the diversity of the borough and meeting many people who work hard for the vulnerable people in our community."