Brentwood Borough Council has elected Councillor Sheila Murphy as the Mayor of Brentwood for 2018/19; she will take over the role of ambassador and first citizen for the coming year.
Councillor Murphy replaces Councillor Will Russell who held the role last year.
Her appointment was made at Annual Council on Wednesday night, where members of the Council were joined in at Brentwood County High School by residents, family members and friends to witness the traditional Mayoral ceremony. Her husband Kevin will accompany her as her Consort.
Councillor Murphy, who is Brentwood’s 27th Mayor, was born in East London. She has lived in the Borough for 33 years.
While growing up, her family ran florist shops in East London before they ran a pub in Herongate. This has been in her family for 40 years, starting with her parents, then run by Sheila and her sister before she took it on on her own. She has now retired from the business and her sons continue to run it.
Sheila met Kevin when they were in school and later married in 1975. They had their sons James in 1976 and John in 1979 and now also have four grandchildren.
Sheila is very involved in her community and has been a trustee of the Herongate and Ingrave Preservation Society for 30 years. She has been a member of Herongate and Ingrave Parish Council for 14 years and is involved in many community activities locally. She has always felt part of the community and said she loves the people and where she lives adding her heart has always been in her village.
Sheila became a Borough Councillor for the Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon ward in 2012 and has been part of the Asset and Enterprise Committee and Planning and Licensing Committee.
Sheila said: “I am proud to be representing Brentwood as Mayor and to have been chosen to do this. I’m ready to go out there and shout about how great Brentwood is and I hope to be able to carry out all my duties with dignity, grace and a smile.
“During my Mayoral year I will be highlighting and fundraising for three charities which reflect three areas that are very important to me – the community, young people and older members of the community. I have always been community minded, that’s where my heart lies, which is a running theme through all the charities I have chosen.”
Her chosen charities are:
West Horndon Village Hall – It is the hub of the local community and where most things happen. They have built it and run it themselves.
The Brentwood and District Scouts and Brentwood Division Girlguiding – Sheila will support the local groups and highlight the good work that they do with local children.
Wendy’s Kitchen – Wendy Thomas was a local lady who was a member of our church St Nicholas Church and spent many an afternoon prepping tea after church services. She was an unsung hero in Sheila’s local village. Wendy’s husband Ray has created this project in her memory – to build a new kitchen to modern standards at the church.
Sheila also intends to work with and alongside Cllr Russell’s new Community Trust Fund of Brentwood on fundraising events this coming year.
Councillor Keith Parker, ward member for Brizes and Doddinghurst, was appointed Deputy Mayor for 2018/19. His wife Frances is the Deputy Mayoress.
