MEET THE MAYOR
given the megaphone to shout ‘vote, vote for
in 2006 representing North Greenford ward,
Albert Esther’, who was my grandfather.”
and appointed to the shadow cabinet with the
She has remained a keen activist over the
portfolio for children and young people.
years, managing to incorporate many supportive
Four years later she contested, and won, the
political roles with her busy professional career
election for Acton Central ward and took the
specialising in international higher education
cabinet portfolio for children and families, which
teaching positions around the UK as well as in
she held until 2013. This was followed by the
Nigeria and Japan. She has published research
cabinet post for adult services and public health,
on the politics of higher education and has
and then for leisure, sport and libraries. She
appreciated the seamless synergy between her
was deputy mayor of Ealing in 2015 to the then
professional and political interests.
mayor, Councillor Harbhajan Kaur Dheer, who
But it was not until
she succeeded as mayor
“I am immensely proud
she decided to settle
in May this year.
in the borough, where
She said: “I am
and honoured to have
she had always admired
immensely proud and
Ealing’s “glorious”
honoured to have
taken over this role.“
town hall as one of its
taken over this role.
many gems, that her political career gathered
We have the privilege of living in an incredibly
momentum. With her family all grown up she
diverse and vibrant community in Ealing and,
was at a stage where she felt she could take a
as mayor, I look forward to getting to know
more active role on the council. So when the
even more about the borough and its people.
local Labour Party put out a call for more women It is the core function of the ceremonial mayor
to get involved she was ready to respond.
to use the civic duties to raise the profile of the
borough, supported as always by my fellow
CIVIC LIFE IN EALING
ward councillors with whom I am privileged to
She has now served the borough for more than
work in Acton Central.”
10 years and was first elected to the council
She has enormous respect for the many
important civic duties she will perform as mayor,
but also wants to use her term to highlight,
and showcase, the many wonderful aspects of
the borough. This includes the churches, Ealing
Abbey, the industrial history of the Acton area
and the individuality of the town centres. She is
passionate about promoting the borough in the
hope that people will come to know and love it
as much as she and her family do.
‘WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
RAISE FUNDS’
The mayor traditionally nominates charities
for which they raise funds during their term
in office. Patricia’s chosen charity is Acton
Homeless Concern.
She said: “As a mother and grandmother I
know that, for most people, a stable home is
tantamount to a palace. The work undertaken
by Acton Homeless Concern is so important to
many people struggling to access the support
and services many of us take for granted. This
is a wonderful opportunity to raise funds and
highlight the vital work they do.”
Married with two children and three
grandchildren, Patricia’s mayoral consorts will be
her husband Lawrence and her son Christian.
around ealing
Autumn 2016
49