Deputy) Mayor's Voice

This column has been written for the past year by the previous Mayor, Councillor Hannah Gray. She was enormously resourceful and inventive in demonstrating how much a ‘virtual’ Mayor can do for the community while adhering to social distancing restrictions. One of the duties of the Mayor is to chair meetings of the Full Council. The only meeting Hannah presided over other than via video was the annual meeting which ended her mayoral year! Whenever there was an easing of lockdown Councillor Gray was out and about in Orpington and other parts of the Borough supporting local businesses and charities.

The new Mayor, Councillor Russell L. Mellor, is now in his 32nd year as a Councillor and represents Copers Cope ward. His impressive CV can be found on the Mayoral pages of the Bromley Council website. I am very proud to have been asked to be his Deputy.

I moved to the Knoll area of Orpington in the early 80s and was first elected to be a Petts Wood & Knoll Councillor in 1989. I worked for 40 years for the Dutch company Philips in their electronic components businesses and retired as the Financial Controller of their worldwide set top box operation.

My main leisure interests are contract bridge (I am a trained bridge teacher and member of Orpington Bridge Club), popular music and world travel. I returned from an 18-day tour of India on 18th February 2020 just before the Covid pandemic spread worldwide.

The Mayor and I would like to devote our Mayoral year to helping recovery in every way we can. If you think your organisation or business would benefit from a formal visit to generate publicity or boost morale please contact the Mayor’s office (mayors.office@bromley.gov.uk or 020 8313 4906), and let us know. I had the pleasure of introducing a virtual meeting to thank the 4,600 Borough volunteers who offered to help disadvantaged neighbours through the Covid lockdowns. This was a fantastic communal effort and a reminder, if one were needed, of what makes this such a nice place to live.

The Mayor has visited Orpington Bowling Club and Mayoral visits are booked for the Petts Wood May Fayre (somewhat later this year!) and also the annual Petts Wood music festival renamed Petts Wood Calling. Whether it is work, play or supporting charities we would like to do everything possible to boost the new ‘normal’ and get us all back to enjoying life again.

Councillor Tony Owen

Councillor Tony Owen Deputy Mayor of Bromley 2021-22

You can get in touch with the Mayor’s office by email at mayors.office@bromley.gov.uk

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