Councillor John Farebrother - The Worshipful The Mayor of Wandsworth

The Labour councillor was formally elected at the Mayor making ceremony on Thursday 15 May.

In his acceptance speech he commented:

"Being a retired public sector auditor two issues - accountability and value for money - have always been close to my heart in my working life. I am pleased that this council on which I serve as a councillor places a high importance on both of these issues in the way it conducts its affairs on behalf of the residents of this Borough.

I have been very honoured to serve as a councillor for Furzedown for the past ten years and I am honoured further to be asked to serve as Mayor of this borough. It is my aim to do my very best to serve the community in the coming year."

Cllr John Farebrother is a retired civil servant who was involved in the audit of public sector bodies for virtually all of his working life. He was first elected to the council in May 1998. He represents Furzedown Ward as a Labour Party member and over the years he has served on a number of committees including leisure and amenities, housing, health, standards, adult care services and licensing.

Cllr Farebrother has lived all his life in Furzedown, attending local schools before moving to the then Bec Grammar School.

In recent years Cllr Farebrother has trained as a pastoral care worker with his local church where he has been a member since 1958. He has been involved in the work of the Furzedown Project since 2002 working as a volunteer driver and escort and home visitor. He is currently a trustee of the Project - a day activity centre for the older person in Furzedown and surrounding wards. He is a member of the South West London branch of Gideons International and is also chairman of a local cricket team.

His interests outside local government include cricket, tennis, skiing, railways and football.

Cllr John Farebrother's mayoral charities for the coming 12 months will be the Alzheimer's Society and the St George's Hospital Charity.

Cllr Peter Dawson is to the new Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth and his wife Lynda Dawson is the Deputy Mayoress.

The new Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth was first elected to the council in May 2006. He represents the Northcote Ward, Battersea and is also deputy chairman of the council's children and young people's services committee.

He is a governor of Battersea Technology College and a trustee of the Sir Walter St John's Educational Charity. He and his wife moved to Battersea with their family in 1982.