Mayor’s Page

It is a huge honour and privilege to be Mayor of Ryde Town Council – and a role that I don’t take lightly. I believe that my many years’ experience as a local councillor, both here in Ryde and on the mainland, and that as a former chair of the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC), give me the necessary skills, while my community work in Ryde gives me some understanding of the needs of our residents. I also believe that I have the dedication and determination to give the role the time and energy that I know it requires.

My predecessor, Richard May, held the position of mayor with distinction. He is a hard act to follow but also an excellent role model. I hope to build on the excellent work he has done with, and on behalf of, Ryde Town Council. In so doing, I shall work closely with other local organisations. We need to work together for the benefit of our residents, especially in these challenging times when the need is great and resources are scarce.

It is important to recognise that, no matter how well something is working, there is always room for improvement. A good organisation is a learning organisation. I will endeavour to use the lessons from our previous experience to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our service to Ryde residents. And a good organisation is also one that listens to the people it serves. There are many people in Ryde with very real concerns – and also with some very good ideas. We need to listen to them and work with them.