The Mayor of Woking

On Monday 18 May, Cllr Tina Liddington was elected as Woking Borough's 36th Mayor at the official Mayor-Making Ceremony, which took place at the Civic Offices during the Annual Meeting of Woking Borough Council.

Woking's new Mayor has had links with this area since she was ten years old when her father instigated a move from Devon to take up the job of green keeper at New Zealand Golf Club in Woodham.  She attended West Byfleet Junior and then Fulbrook School where a period of work experience awakened a desire to care for others.  In the late seventies, she began work at Botleys Park Hospital in Chertsey where she took up the role of care assistant, working with people with learning disabilities.  Her positive experiences then spurred her on to become a registered nurse.

But despite following her vocation, Cllr Liddington began to get itchy feet after five years' service and she set off for a European adventure which culminated in an impromptu visit to Israel.  The break from her Surrey life really opened her eyes and exposed her to new and challenging experiences which helped her to grow in confidence.  Though she made several trips to the country and at one point intended to stay, family commitments called her back to Woking.  In 1986, Cllr Liddington returned to her work at Botleys Park Hospital and settled down in Knaphill.  She has lived in this ward ever since.

In 2002, Cllr Liddington entered the local political arena when she successfully won a by-election in Hermitage and Knaphill South.  As the Liberal Democrat Councillor for this ward, she has since won two more elections and has sat on a range of Council committees including the Planning Committee and Overview and Scrutiny.

But, according to Cllr Liddington, becoming a Mayor is an unquestionable highlight: "I was both surprised and delighted to be asked to take up the Mayoral mantle - it is a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting the hundreds of people who work so hard to build and maintain our local communities.  I have enormous admiration for people who volunteer - without them I think the country would come to a standstill."

During the Mayoral year, Cllr Liddington will be supported by her partner, Steve, who will assume the role of Mayor's Consort, escorting her to a wide range of events and functions.  She will also have the full backing of her twenty-year-old son, James, who is currently studying criminology and sociology at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Talking about what she is most looking forward to as the new Mayor Cllr Liddington said: "It's great to be able to offer my support to events such as the Tour Series cycle race which really help to give the town a boost.  Of course, I am really looking forward to meeting local residents of all ages and talking to them about their lives.  I am especially looking forward to representing the Borough at the Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.  As well as being escorted by Steve and my son James, I have been given permission to take my Mum, Shirley, who is a huge royalist - this trip will be one of the highlights of her life!"

The Mayor's Charity

Not surprisingly, given Cllr Liddington's career in caring for people with learning disabilities, one of her charities for the year is Link Leisure.  This local charity, established twenty years ago, provides sports, social and recreational activities for children and adults with learning disabilities.  Cllr Liddington also intends to support the Woking Branch of the Alzheimer's Society, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and the Community Action Fund which was set up by Cllr Bryan Cross when he was Mayor two years ago.

Speaking about her chosen charities, she said: "They really do a smashing job to support some of the most vulnerable people in the community.  I hope to be able to support them and help to raise awareness of their important work so that they can continue to make a positive contribution to so many people's lives."

Contact the Mayor

Any correspondence should be sent to the Mayor's Executive Assistant, Jackie Brooks at the Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey GU21 6YL, telephone 01483 743023 or email jackie.brooks@woking.gov.uk