The Mayor of Elmbridge

At the Annual General Meeting of Elmbridge Borough Council, held on Wednesday 19th May, |Councillor Barry Cheyne was formally elected to serve as Mayor of Borough for the period 2010 - 2011.

Barry Cheyne was born in Kingston and has lived all his life in North Surrey moving to what is now Elmbridge nearly forty five years ago. Educated at a prep school in New Malden and a grammar school in Wimbledon he went on to study engineering at a major company in Walton. Following this he decided to enter the world of accountancy and held a number of senior posts with both local and international companies over the next few years.

Barry eventually took the decision to go into business on his own behalf and has spent a majority of his working life in building design and contracting.

Barry has two children, Caroline and Martin, by his previous marriage and now lives with his wife Houda in Walton. He has many and varied interests enjoying painting, music and genealogy and is also a keen philatelist still adding to a very large collection built up over a period of fifty years.

Barry first became a Member of Elmbridge Council in May 1994 when he was elected to represent Hersham South. He later stood for the Oatlands Park seat and has represented that community ever since. During his time with the Council he has held the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship of various Committees as well as being Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Cultural Services and is currently a member of the Elmbridge Sports Council. For the past year he has served as Deputy Mayor of the Borough.

With a keen interest in all sections of society, he has, over the years, served on many other bodies. He was a Member of the Surrey Probation Board for three years following the reorganisation of the probation service in England and Wales. He has been a governor of three local schools including Bell Farm and Cardinal Newman in Hersham and Heathside in Weybridge and has been a Trustee and is currently Vice Chairman of The Walton on Thames Charity where he has served for many years. He is a Trustee of the R.C. Sherriff Trust and is also President of the adult division of the St John Ambulance - Weybridge Division.

During the past year in his capacity as Deputy Mayor, Barry has been very involved with ACE (Assisting Communities in Elmbridge) which gives vital help to groups and organisations in the Borough. He has also become involved in the Mayor of Elmbridge Trust Fund which strives to give aid to individuals within the borough in their time of greatest need.

The New Mayor has chosen |Parkinson UK to be his charity for the year. The Charity exists to help and support sufferers from this terrible disease and their carers. Parkinson UK are very excited that the Mayor has chosen them to be his charity for the year and have pledged not only their total support to his efforts but also that every penny raised will be spent in the Borough of Elmbridge to assist sufferers and their families. The Mayor will launch his Charity Appeal on behalf of Parkinson UK at the Holiday Inn, Long Ditton on Thursday 20 May at 10.00am.

Should you wish to help the Mayor's Charity or if you would like further details |please contact the Mayors secretary or |look online for volunteering opportunities and future events.

You can view |Councillor Cheyne's Webpages

|Councillor John Sheldon was elected as the Deputy Mayor

|A list of all past Mayors of Elmbridge is available online.