Councillor Yvonne Johnson will replace Cllr Hitesh Tailor as mayor of Ealing after being formally sworn in at an annual meeting of full council last night, Tuesday 21 May.

As mayor, Cllr Johnson will undertake all civic ceremonial duties within the borough for the municipal year of 2024/25.

This includes attending the Remembrance Day service, greeting any members of the royal family visiting the borough and chairing meetings of the full council.

The new mayor will be assisted in her duties by Cllr Anthony Kelly who was appointed deputy mayor.

For the 2023/24 municipal year no deputy mayor was appointed.

Cllr Johnson will also hold events throughout the year to raise money to support her chosen local charities, Acton Homeless Concern where she is a founder member, and CAPE, which provides mental health services for residents.

Cllr Johnson was first elected as a cllr in South Acton in 1986 and has continued to serve residents there for the past 38 years.

She has twice been deputy leader of the council and held most roles within the cabinet over the years.

The new mayor of Ealing Council has lived in the borough for more than 45 years and worked as a secondary school history teacher for nearly 40 years.

She is an avid reader, theatre-goer and has a passion for music. The new mayor also enjoys spending time visiting the borough's parks and open spaces.

Cllr Johnson will be supported by her husband Brian during her mayoral year, and also by her sister Rosemary.

Reacting to her appointment, she said: "I am very excited and honoured to be Mayor of Ealing for the coming year, it's a very different role to anything I've done before.

"I'm looking forward to meeting people and groups that I have not yet had the chance to meet and go to parts of the borough I don't often visit.

"I'm very proud of our borough and what we have achieved so far, it's an honour to represent it."

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