Guildford Has a New Mayor

Published on: 19 May, 2024
Updated on: 19 May, 2024

The new Mayor of Guildford Sallie Barker MBE

Cllr Sallie Barker MBE is our new Mayor. She was elected at the traditional mayor-making ceremony that took place in the Guildhall on May 8.

Said to have a passion for bringing people together to work towards a common goal, she hopes that her mayoral year will provide an opportunity to do this.

The new Mayor of Guildford said: “Over the 36 years I’ve lived in Guildford, I’ve been involved with many community groups and organisations.

“I’m keen to use the knowledge, experiences, and skills I’ve gained from my voluntary and public roles to benefit residents in Guildford and surrounding villages.”

“By encouraging conversations about our wellbeing, I’ll add my voice and support to those helping people struggling in their daily life.”

Sallie is keen to support as many local charities as possible. She will hold and attend a range of fundraising events to support the differing areas of need within the borough.

She wants to help:

raise the profile of the charities involved
make sure that more people are aware of their work and can access their services

Focus on two charities

Guildford Philanthropy will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. To mark this significant anniversary, Sallie will be helping them to raise funds. Guildford Borough Council and The Community Foundation for Surrey established this charity together.

The new Mayor will also be supporting the Mayor of Guildford’s Local Support Fund. The fund provides vital support by granting small sums of money to help those in genuine need.

More about Sallie

Sallie lives in Guildford with her partner, Phil. They enjoy living in Guildford and taking long walks in the nearby countryside. They have 27 goldfish in their garden pond and a 10-year-old cat, Harry, who spends his time trying to catch them!

Sallie was elected a Guildford Borough Councillor for Pilgrims Ward in May 2023 and appointed as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2023-24

Deputy Mayor for 2024-2025

Cllr Howard Smith becomes the Deputy Mayor for this municipal year. He was elected a councillor for Westborough Ward in May 2023 and is a member of the Planning Committee.